Discovery BoxPsalms 1:3 
Context1:3 He is like 1 a tree planted by flowing streams; 2
it 3 yields 4 its fruit at the proper time, 5
and its leaves never fall off. 6
He succeeds in everything he attempts. 7
Psalms 10:9
Context10:9 He lies in ambush in a hidden place, like a lion in a thicket; 8
he lies in ambush, waiting to catch 9 the oppressed;
he catches the oppressed 10 by pulling in his net. 11
Psalms 15:5
Context15:5 He does not charge interest when he lends his money. 12
He does not take bribes to testify against the innocent. 13
The one who lives like this 14 will never be upended.
1 tn The Hebrew perfect verbal form with vav (ו) consecutive here carries the same characteristic force as the imperfect in the preceding verse. According to the psalmist, the one who studies and obeys God’s commands typically prospers.
2 tn Heb “channels of water.”
3 tn Heb “which.”
4 tn The Hebrew imperfect verbal forms in v. 3 draw attention to the typical nature of the actions/states they describe.
5 tn Heb “in its season.”
6 tn Or “fade”; “wither.”
sn The author compares the godly individual to a tree that has a rich water supply (planted by flowing streams), develops a strong root system, and is filled with leaves and fruit. The simile suggests that the godly have a continual source of life which in turn produces stability and uninterrupted prosperity.
7 tn Heb “and all which he does prospers”; or “and all which he does he causes to prosper.” (The simile of the tree does not extend to this line.) It is not certain if the Hiphil verbal form (יַצְלִיחַ, yatsliakh) is intransitive-exhibitive (“prospers”) or causative (“causes to prosper”) here. If the verb is intransitive, then כֹּל (kol, “all, everything”) is the subject. If the verb is causative, then the godly individual or the Lord himself is the subject and כֹּל is the object. The wording is reminiscent of Josh 1:8, where the Lord tells Joshua: “This law scroll must not leave your lips! You must memorize it day and night so you can carefully obey all that is written in it. Then you will prosper (literally, “cause your way to prosper”) and be successful.”
8 tn Or “in its den.”
9 tn The verb, which also appears in the next line, occurs only here and in Judg 21:21.
10 tn The singular form is collective (see v. 10) or refers to the typical or representative oppressed individual.
11 tn Or “when he [i.e., the wicked man] pulls in his net.”
sn The background of the imagery is hunting, where the hunter uses a net to entrap an unsuspecting bird or wild animal.
12 sn He does not charge interest. Such an individual is truly generous, and not simply concerned with making a profit.
13 tn Heb “a bribe against the innocent he does not take.” For other texts condemning the practice of a judge or witness taking a bribe, see Exod 23:8; Deut 16:19; 27:25; 1 Sam 8:3; Ezek 22:12; Prov 17:23.
14 tn Heb “does these things.”
