Psalms 72:5

72:5 People will fear 1  you 2  as long as the sun and moon remain in the sky,

for generation after generation. 3 

Psalms 104:19

104:19 He made the moon to mark the months, 4 

and the sun sets according to a regular schedule. 5 

1 tn In this context “fear” probably means “to demonstrate respect for the Lord’s power and authority by worshiping him and obeying his commandments.” See Ps 33:8. Some interpreters, with the support of the LXX, prefer to read וְיַאֲרִיךְ (vÿ’a’arikh, “and he [the king in this case] will prolong [days]”), that is, “will live a long time” (cf. NIV, NRSV).

2 tn God is the addressee (see vv. 1-2).

3 tn Heb “with [the] sun, and before [the] moon [for] a generation, generations.” The rare expression דּוֹר דּוֹרִים (dor dorim, “generation, generations”) occurs only here, in Ps 102:24, and in Isa 51:8.

4 tn Heb “he made [the] moon for appointed times.” The phrase “appointed times” probably refers to the months of the Hebrew lunar calendar.

5 tn Heb more metaphorically, “knows its setting.”