40:8 I want to do what pleases you, 1 my God.
Your law dominates my thoughts.” 2
143:10 Teach me to do what pleases you, 3
for you are my God.
May your kind presence 4
lead me 5 into a level land. 6
1 tn Or “your will.”
2 tn Heb “your law [is] in the midst of my inner parts.” The “inner parts” are viewed here as the seat of the psalmist’s thought life and moral decision making.
3 tn Or “your will.” See Ps 40:8.
4 tn Heb “your good spirit.” God’s “spirit” may refer here to his presence (see the note on the word “presence” in Ps 139:7) or to his personal Spirit (see Ps 51:10).
5 tn The prefixed verbal form is taken as a jussive. Taking the statement as a prayer fits well with the petitionary tone of vv. 7-10a.
6 sn A level land (where one can walk free of obstacles) here symbolizes divine blessing and protection. See Pss 26:12 and 27:11 for similar imagery.