85:8 I will listen to what God the Lord says. 1
For he will make 2 peace with his people, his faithful followers. 3
Yet they must not 4 return to their foolish ways.
125:5 As for those who are bent on traveling a sinful path, 5
may the Lord remove them, 6 along with those who behave wickedly! 7
May Israel experience peace! 8
1 sn I will listen. Having asked for the Lord’s favor, the psalmist (who here represents the nation) anticipates a divine word of assurance.
2 tn Heb “speak.” The idiom “speak peace” refers to establishing or maintaining peaceful relations with someone (see Gen 37:4; Zech 9:10; cf. Ps 122:8).
3 tn Heb “to his people and to his faithful followers.” The translation assumes that “his people” and “his faithful followers” are viewed as identical here.
4 tn Or “yet let them not.” After the negative particle אֵל (’el), the prefixed verbal form is jussive, indicating the speaker’s desire or wish.
5 tn Heb “and the ones making their paths twisted.” A sinful lifestyle is compared to a twisting, winding road.
6 tn Heb “lead them away.” The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive of prayer here (note the prayers directly before and after this). Another option is to translate, “the
7 tn Heb “the workers of wickedness.”
8 tn Heb “peace [be] upon Israel.” The statement is understood as a prayer (see Ps 122:8 for a similar prayer for peace).