¹ tn The cohortative expresses the psalmist’s resolve. This may be a vow or promise. If forgiven, the psalmist will “repay” the Lord by declaring God’s mercy and motivating other sinners to repent.

² tn Heb “your ways.” The word “merciful” is added for clarification. God’s “ways” are sometimes his commands, but in this context, where the teaching of God’s ways motivates repentance (see the next line), it is more likely that God’s merciful and compassionate way of dealing with sinners is in view. Thanksgiving songs praising God for his deliverance typically focus on these divine attributes (see Pss 34, 41, 116, 138).

³ tn Or “return,” i.e., in repentance.

⁴ tn Heb “slow to anger” (see Ps 86:15).

⁵ tn Heb “and great of loyal love” (see Ps 86:15).

⁶ tn Or “did,” if this refers primarily to the events of the exodus and conquest period (see vv. 6, 9).

⁷ tn Heb “a memorial he had made for his amazing deeds.”

⁸ tn Heb “slow to anger” (see Pss 86:15; 103:8).

⁹ tn Heb “and great of loyal love” (see Pss 86:15; 103:8).

¹⁰ tn Heb “slow to anger.”

¹¹ tn Heb “and great of loyal love and faithfulness.”

sn The psalmist’s confession of faith in this verse echoes Exod 34:6.

¹² tn In this context “light” symbolizes divine blessing in its various forms (see v. 2), including material prosperity and stability.

¹³ 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.