Psalms 12:6

12:6 The Lord’s words are absolutely reliable. ¹ 

They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground,

where it is thoroughly refined. ² 

Psalms 18:30

18:30 The one true God acts in a faithful manner; ³ 

the Lord’s promise ⁴  is reliable; ⁵ 

he is a shield to all who take shelter ⁶  in him.

Psalms 19:8

19:8 The Lord’s precepts are fair ⁷ 

and make one joyful. ⁸ 

The Lord’s commands ⁹  are pure ¹⁰ 

and give insight for life. ¹¹ 

Psalms 119:140

119:140 Your word is absolutely pure,

and your servant loves it!

Romans 7:12

7:12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.

James 3:17

3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, ¹²  full of mercy and good fruit, ¹³  impartial, and not hypocritical. ¹⁴ 

¹ tn Heb “the words of the Lord are pure words,” i.e., untainted by falsehood or deception (in contrast to the flattery of the evildoers, v. 2).

² tn Heb “[like] silver purified in a furnace of [i.e., “on”] the ground, refined seven times.” The singular participle מְזֻקָּק (mÿzuqqaq, “refined”) modifies “silver.” The number seven is used rhetorically to express the thorough nature of the action. For other rhetorical/figurative uses of שִׁבְעָתָיִם (shiv’atayim, “seven times”), see Gen 4:15, 24; Ps 79:12; Prov 6:31; Isa 30:26.

³ tn Heb “[As for] the God, his way is blameless.” The term הָאֵל (ha’el, “the God”) stands as a nominative (or genitive) absolute in apposition to the resumptive pronominal suffix on “way.” The prefixed article emphasizes his distinctiveness as the one true God (cf. Deut 33:26). God’s “way” in this context refers to his protective and salvific acts in fulfillment of his promise (see also Deut 32:4; Pss 67:2; 77:13 [note vv. 11-12, 14]; 103:7; 138:5; 145:17).

⁴ sn The Lord’s promise. In the ancient Near East kings would typically seek and receive oracles from their god(s) prior to battle. For examples, see R. B. Chisholm, “An Exegetical and Theological Study of Psalm 18/2 Samuel 22” (Th.D. diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 1983), 241-42.

⁵ tn Heb “the word of the Lord is purified.” The Lord’s “word” probably refers here to his oracle(s) of victory delivered to the psalmist before the battle(s) described in the following context. See also Pss 12:5-7 and 138:2-3. David frequently received such oracles before going into battle (see 1 Sam 23:2, 4-5, 10-12; 30:8; 2 Sam 5:19). The Lord’s word of promise is absolutely reliable; it is compared to metal that has been refined in fire and cleansed of impurities. See Ps 12:6.

⁶ sn Take shelter. See the note on the word “shelter” in v. 2.

⁷ tn Or “just.” Perhaps the idea is that they impart a knowledge of what is just and right.

⁸ tn Heb “[they] make happy [the] heart.” Perhaps the point is that they bring a sense of joyful satisfaction to the one who knows and keeps them, for those who obey God’s law are richly rewarded. See v. 11b.

⁹ tn Heb “command.” The singular here refers to the law as a whole.

¹⁰ tn Because they reflect God’s character, his commands provide a code of moral and ethical purity.

¹¹ tn Heb [they] enlighten [the] eyes.

¹² tn Or “willing to yield,” “open to persuasion.”

¹³ tn Grk “fruits.” The plural Greek term καρπούς has been translated with the collective singular “fruit.”

¹⁴ tn Or “sincere.”