Psalms 39:13

39:13 Turn your angry gaze away from me, so I can be happy

before I pass away. ¹ 

Psalms 48:13

48:13 Consider its defenses! ² 

Walk through ³  its fortresses,

so you can tell the next generation about it! ⁴ 

Psalms 105:20

105:20 The king authorized his release; ⁵ 

the ruler of nations set him free.

Psalms 107:7

107:7 He led them on a level road, ⁶ 

that they might find a city in which to live.

Psalms 107:26

107:26 They ⁷  reached up to the sky,

then dropped into the depths.

The sailors’ strength ⁸  left them ⁹  because the danger was so great. ¹⁰ 

Psalms 118:19

118:19 Open for me the gates of the just king’s temple! ¹¹ 

I will enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.

Psalms 139:8

139:8 If I were to ascend ¹²  to heaven, you would be there.

If I were to sprawl out in Sheol, there you would be. ¹³ 

¹ tn Heb “Gaze away from me and I will smile before I go and am not.” The precise identification of the initial verb form (הָשַׁע, hasha’) is uncertain. It could be from the root שָׁעָע (sha’a’, “smear”), but “your eyes” would be the expected object in this case (see Isa 6:10). The verb may be an otherwise unattested Hiphil form of שָׁעָה (sha’ah, “to gaze”) meaning “cause your gaze to be.” Some prefer to emend the form to the Qal שְׁעֵה (shÿ’eh, “gaze”; see Job 14:6). If one does read a form of the verb “to gaze,” the angry divine “gaze” of discipline would seem to be in view (see vv. 10-11). For a similar expression of this sentiment see Job 10:20-21.

² tn Heb “set your heart to its rampart.”

³ tn The precise meaning of the Hebrew word translated “walk through,” which occurs only here in the OT, is uncertain. Cf. NEB “pass…in review”; NIV “view.”

⁴ sn The city’s towers, defenses, and fortresses are outward reminders and tangible symbols of the divine protection the city enjoys.

³ tn Heb “[the] king sent and set him free.”

⁴ sn A level road. See Jer 31:9.

⁵ tn That is, the waves (see v. 25).

⁶ tn Heb “their being”; traditionally “their soul” (referring to that of the sailors). This is sometimes translated “courage” (cf. NIV, NRSV).

⁷ tn Or “melted.”

⁸ tn Heb “from danger.”

⁶ tn Heb “the gates of justice.” The gates of the Lord’s temple are referred to here, as v. 20 makes clear. They are called “gates of justice” because they are the entrance to the just king’s palace. This has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁷ tn The Hebrew verb סָלַק (salaq, “to ascend”) occurs only here in the OT, but the word is well-attested in Aramaic literature from different time periods and displays a wide semantic range (see DNWSI 2:788-90).

⁸ tn Heb “look, you.”