Psalms 132:12-18

132:12 If your sons keep my covenant

and the rules I teach them,

their sons will also sit on your throne forever.”

132:13 Certainly the Lord has chosen Zion;

he decided to make it his home.

132:14 He said, “This will be my resting place forever;

I will live here, for I have chosen it.

132:15 I will abundantly supply what she needs;

I will give her poor all the food they need.

132:16 I will protect her priests,

and her godly people will shout exuberantly.

132:17 There I will make David strong;

I have determined that my chosen king’s dynasty will continue. 10 

132:18 I will humiliate his enemies, 11 

and his crown will shine.


tn Or “for.”

tn Heb “he desired it for his dwelling place.”

tn The words “he said” are added in the translation to clarify that what follows are the Lord’s words.

tn Heb “for I desired it.”

tn Heb “I will greatly bless her provision.” The infinitive absolute is used to emphasize the verb.

tn Heb “her poor I will satisfy [with] food.”

tn Heb “and her priests I will clothe [with] deliverance.”

tn Heb “[with] shouting they will shout.” The infinitive absolute is used to emphasize the verb.

tn Heb “there I will cause a horn to sprout for David.” The horn of an ox underlies the metaphor (cf. Deut 33:17; 1 Kgs 22:11; Pss 18:2; 92:10). The horn of the wild ox is frequently a metaphor for military strength; the idiom “exalt the horn” signifies military victory (see 1 Sam 2:10; Pss 89:17, 24; 92:10; Lam 2:17). In the ancient Near East powerful warrior-kings would sometimes compare themselves to a goring bull that used its horns to kill its enemies. For examples, see P. Miller, “El the Warrior,” HTR 60 (1967): 422-25, and R. B. Chisholm, “An Exegetical and Theological Study of Psalm 18/2 Samuel 22” (Th.D. diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 1983), 135-36.

10 tn Heb “I have arranged a lamp for my anointed one.” Here the “lamp” is a metaphor for the Davidic dynasty (see 1 Kgs 11:36).

11 tn Heb “his enemies I will clothe [with] shame.”