¹ sn The final verse of Ps 89, v. 52, is a conclusion to this third “book” (or major editorial division) of the Psalter. Similar statements appear at or near the end of each of the first, second and fourth “books” of the Psalter (see Pss 41:13; 72:18-19; 106:48, respectively).

² tn Heb “[be] blessed.” See Pss 18:46; 28:6; 31:21.

³ tn Heb “surely and surely” (אָמֵן וְאָמֵן [’amen vÿ’amen], i.e., “Amen and amen”). This is probably a congregational response to the immediately preceding statement about the propriety of praising God; thus it has been translated “We agree! We agree!”

⁴ tn Heb “blessed [be] the Lord.”

⁵ sn He has heard my plea for mercy. The psalmist’s mood abruptly changes at this point, because the Lord responded positively to his petition and assured him that he would deliver him.

⁶ tn Heb “[be] blessed.” See Pss 18:46; 28:6; 31:21.

⁷ tn Heb “from everlasting to everlasting.” See 1 Chr 16:36; Neh 9:5; Pss 90:2; 106:48.

⁸ tn Heb “surely and surely” (אָמֵן וְאָמֵן [’amen vÿ’amen], i.e., “amen and amen”). This is probably a congregational response to the immediately preceding statement about the propriety of praising God.

⁹ tn Heb “his name,” which here stands metonymically for God’s reputation.

¹⁰ tn Heb “make honorable his praise.”

¹¹ tn Heb “blessed [be] God.”

¹² tn Or “who.” In a blessing formula after בָּרוּךְ (barukh, “blessed be”) the form אֲשֶׁר (’asher), whether taken as a relative pronoun or causal particle, introduces the basis for the blessing/praise.

¹³ tn Heb “did not turn aside my prayer and his loyal love with me.”

¹⁴ tn Heb “[be] blessed.” See Pss 18:46; 28:6; 31:21; 41:13.

¹⁵ tn Heb “[the] one who does amazing things by himself.”

¹⁶ tn Heb “the splendor of [i.e., “due”] his name.”

¹⁷ tn Heb “blessed [be] the Lord.”

¹⁸ tn Heb “[the one] who.”

¹⁹ tn Heb “praised be the Lord from Zion.”

²⁰ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

²¹ tn Heb “blessed [be] the Lord.”

²² tn Heb “for he caused his faithfulness to be amazing to me in a besieged city.” The psalmist probably speaks figuratively here. He compares his crisis to being trapped in a besieged city, but the Lord answered his prayer for help. Verses 19-24 were apparently written after the Lord answered the prayer of vv. 1-18.

²³ tn The prefixed verb forms in vv. 6b-7a are understood as jussives.

²⁴ tn Heb “will fear him.” After the jussive of the preceding line, the prefixed verbal form with prefixed vav (ו) conjunctive is understood as indicating purpose/result. (Note how v. 3 anticipates the universal impact of God showing his people blessing.) Another option is to take the verb as a jussive and translate, “Let all the ends of the earth fear him.”

²⁵ tn Heb “blessed [be] the Lord.”

²⁶ tn It is possible to take this phrase with what precedes (“The Lord deserves praise day after day”) rather than with what follows.

²⁷ tn Heb “[be] blessed.”

²⁸ tn Or “glory.”

²⁹ tn Heb “surely and surely” (אָמֵן וְאָמֵן [’amen vÿ’amen], i.e., “Amen and amen”). This is probably a congregational response of agreement to the immediately preceding statement about the propriety of praising God.