9:2 (9:1) I wish I had a lodging place in the desert
where I could spend some time like a weary traveler. 1
Then I would desert my people
and walk away from them
because they are all unfaithful to God,
a congregation 2 of people that has been disloyal to him. 3
12:1 Lord, you have always been fair
whenever I have complained to you. 4
However, I would like to speak with you about the disposition of justice. 5
Why are wicked people successful? 6
Why do all dishonest people have such easy lives?
1 tn Heb “I wish I had in the desert a lodging place [inn, or place to spend the night] for travelers.”
2 tn Or “bunch,” but this loses the irony; the word is used for the solemn assemblies at the religious feasts.
3 tn Heb “they are all adulterers, a congregation of unfaithful people.” However, spiritual adultery is, of course, meant, not literal adultery. So the literal translation would be misleading.
4 tn Or “
5 tn Heb “judgments” or “matters of justice.” For the nuance of “complain to,” “fair,” “disposition of justice” assumed here, see BDB 936 s.v. רִיב Qal.4 (cf. Judg 21:22); BDB 843 s.v. צַדִּיק 1.d (cf. Ps 7:12; 11:7); BDB 1049 s.v. מִשְׁפָּט 1.f (cf. Isa 26:8; Ps 10:5; Ezek 7:27).
6 tn Heb “Why does the way [= course of life] of the wicked prosper?”