56:6 They stalk 1 and lurk; 2
they watch my every step, 3
as 4 they prepare to take my life. 5
120:7 I am committed to peace, 6
but when I speak, they want to make war. 7
A song of ascents. 9
120:1 In my distress I cried out
to the Lord and he answered me.
A psalm of David.
23:1 The Lord is my shepherd, 11
I lack nothing. 12
A psalm of David.
24:1 The Lord owns the earth and all it contains,
the world and all who live in it.
A psalm of David.
24:1 The Lord owns the earth and all it contains,
the world and all who live in it.
By David.
26:1 Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have integrity, 16
and I trust in the Lord without wavering.
1 tn The verb is from the root גּוּר (gur), which means “to challenge, attack” in Isa 54:15 and “to stalk” (with hostile intent) in Ps 59:3.
2 tn Or “hide.”
3 tn Heb “my heels.”
4 tn Heb “according to,” in the sense of “inasmuch as; since,” or “when; while.”
5 tn Heb “they wait [for] my life.”
6 tn Heb “I, peace.”
7 tn Heb “they [are] for war.”
8 sn Psalm 120. The genre and structure of this psalm are uncertain. It begins like a thanksgiving psalm, with a brief notice that God has heard the psalmist’s prayer for help and has intervened. But v. 2 is a petition for help, followed by a taunt directed toward enemies (vv. 3-4) and a lament (vv. 5-7). Perhaps vv. 2-7 recall the psalmist’s prayer when he cried out to the Lord.
9 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.
10 sn Psalm 23. In vv. 1-4 the psalmist pictures the Lord as a shepherd who provides for his needs and protects him from danger. The psalmist declares, “The Lord is my shepherd,” and then extends and develops that metaphor, speaking as if he were a sheep. In vv. 5-6 the metaphor changes as the psalmist depicts a great royal banquet hosted by the Lord. The psalmist is a guest of honor and recipient of divine favor, who enjoys unlimited access to the divine palace and the divine presence.
11 sn The LORD is my shepherd. The opening metaphor suggests the psalmist is assuming the role of a sheep. In vv. 1b-4 the psalmist extends the metaphor and explains exactly how the LORD is like a shepherd to him. At the surface level the language can be understood in terms of a shepherd’s relationship to his sheep. The translation of vv. 1-4 reflects this level. But, of course, each statement also points to an underlying reality.
12 tn The imperfect verbal form is best understood as generalizing; the psalmist highlights his typical or ongoing experience as a result of having the LORD as his shepherd (habitual present use). The next verse explains more specifically what he means by this statement.
13 sn Psalm 24. The psalmist affirms the universal kingship of the sovereign creator, reminds his people that only the morally pure are qualified to worship him, and celebrates his splendor as a mighty warrior king.
14 sn Psalm 24. The psalmist affirms the universal kingship of the sovereign creator, reminds his people that only the morally pure are qualified to worship him, and celebrates his splendor as a mighty warrior king.
15 sn Psalm 26. The author invites the Lord to test his integrity, asserts his innocence and declares his loyalty to God.
16 tn Heb “for I in my integrity walk.”