68:5 He is a father to the fatherless
and an advocate for widows. 1
God rules from his holy palace. 2
68:6 God settles those who have been deserted in their own homes; 3
he frees prisoners and grants them prosperity. 4
But sinful rebels live in the desert. 5
1 sn God is depicted here as a just ruler. In the ancient Near Eastern world a king was responsible for promoting justice, including caring for the weak and vulnerable, epitomized by the fatherless and widows.
2 tn Heb “God [is] in his holy dwelling place.” He occupies his throne and carries out his royal responsibilities.
3 tn Heb “God causes the solitary ones to dwell in a house.” The participle suggests this is what God typically does.
4 tn Heb “he brings out prisoners into prosperity.” Another option is to translate, “he brings out prisoners with singing” (cf. NIV). The participle suggests this is what God typically does.
5 tn Or “in a parched [land].”
6 tn See the note on the word “slave” in 1:10.
7 tn Grk “male and female.”