87:5 But it is said of Zion’s residents, 1
“Each one of these 2 was born in her,
and the sovereign One 3 makes her secure.” 4
101:8 Each morning I will destroy all the wicked people in the land,
and remove all evildoers from the city of the Lord.
A song of ascents. 6
128:1 How blessed is every one of the Lord’s loyal followers, 7
each one who keeps his commands! 8
1 tn Heb “and of Zion it is said.” Another option is to translate, “and to Zion it is said.” In collocation with the Niphal of אָמַר (’amar), the preposition lamed (-לְ) can introduce the recipient of the statement (see Josh 2:2; Jer 4:11; Hos 1:10; Zeph 3:16), carry the nuance “concerning, of” (see Num 23:23), or mean “be named” (see Isa 4:3; 62:4).
2 tn Heb “a man and a man.” The idiom also appears in Esth 1:8. The translation assumes that the phrase refers to each of Zion’s residents, in contrast to the foreigners mentioned in v. 4. Those advocating the universalistic interpretation understand this as a reference to each of the nations, including those mentioned in v. 4.
3 tn Traditionally “Most High.”
4 tn Heb “and he makes her secure, the Most High.”
5 sn Psalm 128. The psalmist observes that the godly individual has genuine happiness because the Lord rewards such a person with prosperity and numerous children.
6 sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.
7 tn Heb “every fearer of the
8 tn Heb “the one who walks in his ways.”