48:11 Mount Zion rejoices;
the towns 1 of Judah are happy, 2
because of your acts of judgment. 3
A song of ascents. 5
125:1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion;
it cannot be upended and will endure forever.
1 tn Heb “daughters.” The reference is to the cities of Judah surrounding Zion (see Ps 97:8 and H. Haag, TDOT 2:336).
2 tn The prefixed verbal forms are understood as generalizing imperfects. (For other examples of an imperfect followed by causal לְמַעַן [lÿma’an], see Ps 23:3; Isa 49:7; 55:5.) Another option is to interpret the forms as jussives, “Let Mount Zion rejoice! Let the towns of Judah be happy!” (cf. NASB, NRSV; note the imperatives in vv. 12-13.)
3 sn These acts of judgment are described in vv. 4-7.
4 sn Psalm 125. The psalmist affirms his confidence in the Lord’s protection and justice.
5 sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.