42:2 I thirst 1 for God,
for the living God.
I say, 2 “When will I be able to go and appear in God’s presence?” 3
77:13 4 O God, your deeds are extraordinary! 5
What god can compare to our great God? 6
1 tn Or “my soul thirsts.”
2 tn The words “I say” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarification.
3 tn Heb “When will I go and appear [to] the face of God?” Some emend the Niphal verbal form אֵרָאֶה (’era’eh, “I will appear”) to a Qal אֶרְאֶה (’er’eh, “I will see”; see Gen 33:10), but the Niphal can be retained if one understands ellipsis of אֶת (’et) before “face” (see Exod 34:24; Deut 31:11).
4 sn Verses 13-20 are the content of the psalmist’s reflection (see vv. 11-12). As he thought about God’s work in Israel’s past, he reached the place where he could confidently cry out for God’s help (see v. 1).
5 tn Heb “O God, in holiness [is] your way.” God’s “way” here refers to his actions. “Holiness” is used here in the sense of “set apart, unique,” rather than in a moral/ethical sense. As the next line and the next verse emphasize, God’s deeds are incomparable and set him apart as the one true God.
6 tn Heb “Who [is] a great god like God?” The rhetorical question assumes the answer, “No one!”