86:15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and merciful God.
You are patient 1 and demonstrate great loyal love and faithfulness. 2
112:4 In the darkness a light 3 shines for the godly,
for each one who is merciful, compassionate, and just. 4
1 tn Heb “slow to anger.”
2 tn Heb “and great of loyal love and faithfulness.”
sn The psalmist’s confession of faith in this verse echoes Exod 34:6.
3 tn In this context “light” symbolizes divine blessing in its various forms (see v. 2), including material prosperity and stability.
4 tn Heb “merciful and compassionate and just.” The Hebrew text has three singular adjectives, which are probably substantival and in apposition to the “godly” (which is plural, however). By switching to the singular, the psalmist focuses on each individual member of the group known as the “godly.” Note how vv. 5-9, like vv. 1-2a, use the singular to describe the representative godly individual who typifies the whole group.