Psalms 3:5-6

3:5 I rested and slept;

I awoke, 1  for the Lord protects 2  me.

3:6 I am not afraid 3  of the multitude of people 4 

who attack me from all directions. 5 

1 tn The three verbal forms that appear in succession here (perfect + vav [ו] consecutive with preterite + perfect) are most naturally taken as narrational. When the psalmist received an assuring word from the Lord, he was able to sleep calmly. Because the Lord was protecting him, he awoke safely from his sleep.

2 tn Or “supports”; “sustains.” In this explanatory causal clause the imperfect verbal form probably has a habitual or present progressive nuance, for the psalmist is confident of God’s continual protection (see v. 3). Another option is to take the verb as a preterite, “for the Lord protected me.” In this case, the psalmist focuses specifically on the protection God provided while he slept.

3 tn The imperfect verbal form here expresses the psalmist’s continuing attitude as he faces the crisis at hand.

4 tn Or perhaps “troops.” The Hebrew noun עָם (’am) sometimes refers to a military contingent or army.

5 tn Heb “who all around take a stand against me.”