1:3 He is like 2 a tree planted by flowing streams; 3
it 4 yields 5 its fruit at the proper time, 6
and its leaves never fall off. 7
He succeeds in everything he attempts. 8
9:25 So know and understand:
From the issuing of the command 9 to restore and rebuild
Jerusalem 10 until an anointed one, a prince arrives, 11
there will be a period of seven weeks 12 and sixty-two weeks.
It will again be built, 13 with plaza and moat,
but in distressful times.
1 sn The sixth year of the reign of Darius would be ca. 516
2 tn The Hebrew perfect verbal form with vav (ו) consecutive here carries the same characteristic force as the imperfect in the preceding verse. According to the psalmist, the one who studies and obeys God’s commands typically prospers.
3 tn Heb “channels of water.”
4 tn Heb “which.”
5 tn The Hebrew imperfect verbal forms in v. 3 draw attention to the typical nature of the actions/states they describe.
6 tn Heb “in its season.”
7 tn Or “fade”; “wither.”
8 tn Heb “and all which he does prospers”; or “and all which he does he causes to prosper.” (The simile of the tree does not extend to this line.) It is not certain if the Hiphil verbal form (יַצְלִיחַ, yatsliakh) is intransitive-exhibitive (“prospers”) or causative (“causes to prosper”) here. If the verb is intransitive, then כֹּל (kol, “all, everything”) is the subject. If the verb is causative, then the godly individual or the Lord himself is the subject and כֹּל is the object. The wording is reminiscent of Josh 1:8, where the Lord tells Joshua: “This law scroll must not leave your lips! You must memorize it day and night so you can carefully obey all that is written in it. Then you will prosper (literally, “cause your way to prosper”) and be successful.”
9 tn Or “decree” (NASB, NIV); or “word” (NAB, NRSV).
10 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
11 tn The word “arrives” is added in the translation for clarification.
12 tn Heb “sevens” (also later in this line and in v. 26).
13 tn Heb “it will return and be built.” The expression is a verbal hendiadys.