Psalms 49:19
Context49:19 But he will join his ancestors; 1
they will never again see the light of day. 2
Psalms 97:4
Context97:4 His lightning bolts light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
Psalms 97:11
Context97:11 The godly bask in the light;
the morally upright experience joy. 3
Psalms 119:130
Context119:130 Your instructions are a doorway through which light shines. 4
1 tn Verses 18-19a are one long sentence in the Hebrew text, which reads: “Though he blesses his soul in his life, [saying], ‘And let them praise you, for you do well for yourself,’ it [that is, his soul] will go to the generation of his fathers.” This has been divided into two sentences in the translation for clarity, in keeping with the tendency of contemporary English to use shorter sentences.
2 tn Heb “light.” The words “of day” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
3 tn Heb “Light is planted for the godly, and for the upright of heart joy.” The translation assumes an emendation of זָרַע (zara’, “planted”) to זָרַח (zara’, “shines”) which collocates more naturally with “light.” “Light” here symbolizes the joy (note the following line) that accompanies deliverance and the outpouring of divine favor.
4 tn Heb “the doorway of your words gives light.” God’s “words” refer here to the instructions in his law (see vv. 9, 57).
5 tn Heb “it [i.e., the doorway] gives.”
6 tn Or “the [morally] naive,” that is, the one who is young and still in the process of learning right from wrong and distinguishing wisdom from folly. See Pss 19:7; 116:6.