Psalms 21:4
ContextNET © | He asked you to sustain his life, 1 and you have granted him long life and an enduring dynasty. 2 |
NIV © | He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—length of days, for ever and ever. |
NASB © | He asked life of You, You gave it to him, Length of days forever and ever. |
NLT © | He asked you to preserve his life, and you have granted his request. The days of his life stretch on forever. |
MSG © | He wanted a good life; you gave it to him, and then made it a [long] life as a bonus. |
BBE © | He made request to you for life, and you gave it to him, long life for ever and ever. |
NRSV © | He asked you for life; you gave it to him—length of days forever and ever. |
NKJV © | He asked life from You, and You gave it to him––Length of days forever and ever. |
KJV | |
NASB © | |
HEBREW | |
LXXM | |
NET © [draft] ITL | |
NET © | He asked you to sustain his life, 1 and you have granted him long life and an enduring dynasty. 2 |
NET © Notes |
1 tn Heb “life he asked from you.” Another option is to translate the perfect verbal forms in v. 4 with the present tense, “he asks…you grant.” 2 tn Heb “you have granted him length of days forever and ever.” The phrase “length of days,” when used of human beings, usually refers to a lengthy period of time (such as one’s lifetime). See, for example, Deut 30:20; Job 12:12; Ps 91:16; Prov 3:2, 16; Lam 5:20. The additional phrase “forever and ever” is hyperbolic. While it seems to attribute eternal life to the king (see Pss 61:6-7; 72:5 as well), the underlying reality is the king’s enduring dynasty. He will live on, as it were, through his descendants, who will continue to rule over his kingdom long after he has passed off the scene. |