² sn Letting the hair grow was associated with taking a vow (Num 6:5; Acts 21:23-26).

¹ sn The actions referred to here were all acts used to mourn the dead (cf. Isa 15:2-3).

⁴ sn The significance of this act is explained in vv. 9-10. See the notes there for explanation.

¹ tn Heb “and like a garment of menstruation [are] all our righteous acts”; KJV, NIV “filthy rags”; ASV “a polluted garment.”

⁴ sn The contrast between “delight/pleasure” and “abomination” is emphatic. What pleases the Lord is acting truthfully or faithfully.

¹ sn This contrasts the wicked motivated by hatred (animosity, rejection) with the righteous motivated by love (kind acts, showing favor).

³ tn The Hebrew term פֶּשַׁע (peshaʿ, rebellious act”) is here used metonymically for the guilt such actions produce.

³ tn Heb “awesome [is] an act toward the sons of man.” It is unclear how the prepositional phrase relates to what precedes. If collocated with “act,” it may mean “on behalf of” or “toward.” If taken with “awesome” (see 1 Chr 16:25; Pss 89:7; 96:4; Zeph 2:11), one might translate “his awesome acts are beyond human comprehension” or “his awesome acts are superior to anything men can do.”

¹ tn Heb “because you acted.” The psalmist has in mind God’s disciplinary measures (see vv. 10-13).

² tn Heb “he will act.” Verse 6 explains what is meant; the Lord will vindicate those who trust in him.

² tn Heb “all that Moses, the Lord’s servant, had commanded, and they did not listen and they did not act.”

² tn Heb “He acted very abominably by walking after the disgusting idols, according to all which the Amorites had done.”

² tc The translation follows the LXX (“he was delivered”), rather than the MT, which reads, “he acted wickedly.”

⁴ tn Heb “you have made the latter act of devotion better than the former”; NIV “than that which you showed earlier.”

³ sn See Matt 23:27 and Acts 23:3 for application of this by the time of Jesus.

¹ tn The verb, “and they will return,” is here subordinated to the imperative preceding it, showing the purpose of that act.

² tn The Hiphil participle מַמְטִיר (mamtir, “cause to rain”) here expresses the certainty of the act in the imminent future.

⁴ tn Heb “be bold.” The verb רָהַב (rahav) means “to act stormily; to act boisterously; to act arrogantly.” The idea here is a strong one: storm against (beset, importune) your neighbor. The meaning is that he should be bold and not take no for an answer. Cf. NIV “press your plea”; TEV “beg him to release you.”

³ tn Heb “you have acted.” The perfect verbal form (1) probably indicates a future perfect here. The psalmist promises to give thanks when the expected vindication has been accomplished. Other options include (2) a generalizing (“for you act”) or (3) rhetorical (“for you will act”) use.

⁴ tc Heb “for again I will give him thanks, the saving acts of my face and my God.” The last line should be emended to read יְשׁוּעֹת פְנֵי אֱלֹהָי (y^eshuʿot f^ene ʾelohay, “[for] the saving acts of the face of my God,” that is, the saving acts associated with God’s presence/intervention. This refrain is identical to the one in Ps 42:11. See also 42:5, which differs only slightly.