Text -- Psalms 68:31-35 (NET)

68:31 They come with red cloth from Egypt, Ethiopia voluntarily offers tribute to God. 68:32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God! Sing praises to the Lord, (Selah) 68:33 to the one who rides through the sky from ancient times! Look! He thunders loudly. 68:34 Acknowledge God’s power, his sovereignty over Israel, and the power he reveals in the skies! 68:35 You are awe-inspiring, O God, as you emerge from your holy temple! It is the God of Israel who gives the people power and strength. God deserves praise!

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Psa 68:31

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).

NET Notes: Psa 68:33

¹ tc Heb “to the one who rides through the skies of skies of ancient times.” If the MT is retained, one might translate, “to the one who rides through the ancient skies.” (שְׁמֵי [shÿmey, “skies of”] may be accidentally repeated.) The present translation assumes an emendation to בַּשָּׁמַיִם מִקֶּדֶם (bashamayim miqqedem, “[to the one who rides] through the sky from ancient times”), that is, God has been revealing his power through the storm since ancient times.

² tn Heb “he gives his voice a strong voice.” In this context God’s “voice” is the thunder that accompanies the rain (see vv. 8-9, as well as Deut 33:26).

NET Notes: Psa 68:34

¹ tn Heb “give strength to God.”

² sn The language of v. 34 echoes that of Deut 33:26.

NET Notes: Psa 68:35

¹ tn Heb “awesome [is] God from his holy places.” The plural of מִקְדָּשׁ (miqdash, “holy places”) perhaps refers to the temple precincts (see Ps 73:17; Jer 51:51).

² tn Heb “the God of Israel, he.”

³ tn Heb “blessed [be] God.”