Psalms 68:31

They come with red cloth ¹  from Egypt, Ethiopia ²  voluntarily offers tribute ³  to God.

1Ki 8:22; Ps 44:20; Ps 72:8-11; Ps 88:9; Ps 143:6; Isa 19:18-25; Isa 45:14; Isa 60:6,7; Isa 66:19; Zep 3:10; Ac 8:27-40

¹ tn This noun, which occurs only here in the OT, apparently means “red cloth” or “bronze articles” (see HALOT 362 s.v. חַשְׁמַן; cf. NEB “tribute”). Traditionally the word has been taken to refer to “nobles” (see BDB 365 s.v. חַשְׁמַן; cf. NIV “envoys”). Another option would be to emend the text to הַשְׁמַנִּים (hashmannim, “the robust ones,” i.e., leaders).

² tn Heb “Cush.”

³ tn Heb “causes its hands to run,” which must mean “quickly stretches out its hands” (to present tribute).