Psalms 34:22

34:22 The Lord rescues his servants;

all who take shelter in him escape punishment.

Psalms 60:8

60:8 Moab is my washbasin.

I will make Edom serve me.

I will shout in triumph over Philistia.”

Psalms 76:10

76:10 Certainly your angry judgment upon men will bring you praise;

you reveal your anger in full measure.

Psalms 86:2

86:2 Protect me, for I am loyal!

O my God, deliver your servant, who trusts in you!

Psalms 86:16

86:16 Turn toward me and have mercy on me!

Give your servant your strength!

Deliver your slave! 10 

Psalms 101:7

101:7 Deceitful people will not live in my palace. 11 

Liars will not be welcome in my presence. 12 

Psalms 108:9

108:9 Moab is my wash basin. 13 

I will make Edom serve me. 14 

I will shout in triumph over Philistia.”

Psalms 116:16

116:16 Yes, Lord! I am indeed your servant;

I am your lowest slave. 15 

You saved me from death. 16 

Psalms 135:1

Psalm 135 17 

135:1 Praise the Lord!

Praise the name of the Lord!

Offer praise, you servants of the Lord,


tn Heb “redeems the life of his servants.” The Hebrew participial form suggests such deliverance is characteristic.

tn “Taking shelter” in the Lord is an idiom for seeking his protection. Seeking his protection presupposes and even demonstrates the subject’s loyalty to the Lord. In the psalms those who “take shelter” in the Lord are contrasted with the wicked and equated with those who love, fear, and serve the Lord (Pss 2:12; 5:11-12; 31:19).

sn The metaphor of the washbasin, used to rinse one’s hands and feet, suggests that Moab, in contrast to Israel’s elevated position (vv. 6-7), would be reduced to the status of a servant.

tn Heb “over Edom I will throw my sandal.” The point of the metaphor is not entirely clear. Some interpret this as idiomatic for “taking possession of,” i.e., “I will take possession of Edom.” Others translate עַל (’al) as “to” and understand this as referring to a master throwing his dirty sandal to a servant so that the latter might dust it off.

tc Heb “over me, O Philistia, shout in triumph.” The translation follows the text of Ps 108:9. When the initial עֲלֵיוֹ (’aleyo, “over”) was misread as עָלַי (’alay, “over me”), the first person verb form was probably altered to an imperative to provide better sense to the line.

tn Or “for.”

tn Heb “the anger of men will praise you.” This could mean that men’s anger (subjective genitive), when punished by God, will bring him praise, but this interpretation does not harmonize well with the next line. The translation assumes that God’s anger is in view here (see v. 7) and that “men” is an objective genitive. God’s angry judgment against men brings him praise because it reveals his power and majesty (see vv. 1-4).

tn Heb “the rest of anger you put on.” The meaning of the statement is not entirely clear. Perhaps the idea is that God, as he prepares for battle, girds himself with every last ounce of his anger, as if it were a weapon.

tn Heb “my life.”

tn Heb “the son of your female servant.” The phrase “son of a female servant” (see also Ps 116:16) is used of a son born to a secondary wife or concubine (Exod 23:12). In some cases the child’s father is the master of the house (see Gen 21:10, 13; Judg 9:18). The use of the expression here certainly does not imply that the Lord has such a secondary wife or concubine! It is used metaphorically and idiomatically to emphasize the psalmist’s humility before the Lord and his status as the Lord’s servant.

11 tn Heb “he will not live in the midst of my house, one who does deceit.”

12 tn Heb “one who speaks lies will not be established before my eyes.”

13 sn The metaphor of the wash basin, used to rinse one’s hands and feet, suggests that Moab, in contrast to Israel’s elevated position (vv. 7-8), would be reduced to the status of a servant.

14 tn Heb “over Edom I will throw my sandal.” The point of the metaphor is not entirely clear. Some interpret this as idiomatic for “taking possession of.” Others translate עַל (’al) as “to” and understand this as referring to a master throwing his dirty sandal to a servant so that the latter might dust it off.

15 tn Heb “I am your servant, the son of your female servant.” The phrase “son of a female servant” (see also Ps 86:16) is used of a son born to a secondary wife or concubine (Exod 23:12). In some cases the child’s father is the master of the house (see Gen 21:10, 13; Judg 9:18). The use of the expression here certainly does not imply that the Lord has such a secondary wife or concubine! It is used metaphorically and idiomatically to emphasize the psalmist’s humility before the Lord and his status as the Lord’s servant.

16 tn Heb “you have loosed my bonds.” In this context the imagery refers to deliverance from death (see v. 3).

17 sn Psalm 135. The psalmist urges God’s people to praise him because he is the incomparable God and ruler of the world who has accomplished great things for Israel.