Discovery BoxPsalms 14:5 
Context14:5 They are absolutely terrified, 1
for God defends the godly. 2
Psalms 119:138
Context119:138 The rules you impose are just, 3
and absolutely reliable.
Psalms 119:140
Context119:140 Your word is absolutely pure,
and your servant loves it!
Psalms 139:22
Context139:22 I absolutely hate them, 4
they have become my enemies!
Psalms 143:4
Context143:4 My strength leaves me; 5
I am absolutely shocked. 6
1 tn Heb “there they are afraid [with] fear.” The perfect verbal form is probably used in a rhetorical manner; the psalmist describes the future demise of the oppressors as if it were already occurring. The adverb שָׁם (sham, “there”) is also used here for dramatic effect, as the psalmist envisions the wicked standing in fear at a spot that is this vivid in his imagination (BDB 1027 s.v.). The cognate accusative following the verb emphasizes the degree of their terror.
2 tn Heb “for God is with a godly generation.” The Hebrew noun דּוֹר (dor, “generation”) refers here to the general class of people who are characterized by godliness. See BDB 190 s.v. for other examples where “generation” refers to a class of people.
3 tn Heb “you commanded [in] justice your rules.”
4 tn Heb “[with] completeness of hatred I hate them.”
5 tn Heb “my spirit grows faint.”
6 tn Heb “in my midst my heart is shocked.” For a similar use of the Hitpolel of שָׁמֵם (shamem), see Isa 59:16; 63:5.
