Genesis 4:12

4:12 When you try to cultivate ¹  the

ground it will no longer yield ²  its best ³  for you. You will be a homeless wanderer ⁴  on the earth.”

Genesis 4:14

4:14 Look! You are driving me off the land ⁵  today, and I must hide from your presence. ⁶  I will be a homeless wanderer on the earth; whoever finds me will kill me.”

Psalms 4:6

4:6 Many say, “Who can show us anything good?”

Smile upon us, Lord! ⁷ 

Psalms 41:12

41:12 As for me, you uphold ⁸  me because of my integrity; ⁹ 

you allow ¹⁰  me permanent access to your presence. ¹¹ 

Isaiah 59:2

59:2 But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God;

your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers. ¹² 

[4:12]  ¹ tn Heb “work.”

[4:12]  ² tn Heb “it will not again (תֹסֵף, tosef) give (תֵּת, tet),” meaning the ground will no longer yield. In translation the infinitive becomes the main verb, and the imperfect verb form becomes adverbial.

[4:12]  ³ tn Heb “its strength.”

[4:12]  ⁴ tn Two similar sounding synonyms are used here: נָע וָנָד (na’ vanad, “a wanderer and a fugitive”). This juxtaposition of synonyms emphasizes the single idea. In translation one can serve as the main description, the other as a modifier. Other translation options include “a wandering fugitive” and a “ceaseless wanderer” (cf. NIV).

[4:14]  ⁵ tn Heb “from upon the surface of the ground.”

[4:14]  ⁶ sn I must hide from your presence. The motif of hiding from the Lord as a result of sin also appears in Gen 3:8-10.

[4:6]  ⁷ tn Heb “lift up upon us the light of your face, Lord.” The verb נסה is apparently an alternate form of נשׂא, “lift up.” See GKC 217 §76.b. The idiom “light of your face” probably refers to a smile (see Eccl 8:1), which in turn suggests favor and blessing (see Num 6:25; Pss 31:16; 44:3; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19; 89:15; Dan 9:17).

[41:12]  ⁸ tn Or “have upheld.” The perfect verbal form can be taken as generalizing/descriptive (present) or as a present perfect.

[41:12]  ⁹ sn Because of my integrity. See Pss 7:8; 25:21; 26:1, 11.

[41:12]  ¹⁰ tn The prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) consecutive has the same aspectual function as the preceding perfect. It is either generalizing/descriptive (present) or has a present perfect nuance (“you have allowed”).

[41:12]  ¹¹ tn Heb “and you cause me to stand before you permanently.”

[59:2]  ¹² tn Heb “and your sins have caused [his] face to be hidden from you so as not to hear.”