Isaiah 60:17-18

60:17 Instead of bronze, I will bring you gold,

instead of iron, I will bring you silver,

instead of wood, I will bring you ¹  bronze,

instead of stones, I will bring you ²  iron.

I will make prosperity ³  your overseer,

and vindication your sovereign ruler. ⁴ 

60:18 Sounds of violence ⁵  will no longer be heard in your land,

or the sounds of ⁶  destruction and devastation within your borders.

You will name your walls, ‘Deliverance,’

and your gates, ‘Praise.’

Psalms 72:3-7

72:3 The mountains will bring news of peace to the people,

and the hills will announce justice. ⁷ 

72:4 He will defend ⁸  the oppressed among the people;

he will deliver ⁹  the children ¹⁰  of the poor

and crush the oppressor.

72:5 People will fear ¹¹  you ¹²  as long as the sun and moon remain in the sky,

for generation after generation. ¹³ 

72:6 He ¹⁴  will descend like rain on the mown grass, ¹⁵ 

like showers that drench ¹⁶  the earth. ¹⁷ 

72:7 During his days the godly will flourish; ¹⁸ 

peace will prevail as long as the moon remains in the sky. ¹⁹ 

[60:17]  ¹ tn The words “I will bring you” are supplied in the translation; they are understood by ellipsis (see the preceding lines).

[60:17]  ² tn The words “I will bring you” are supplied in the translation; they are understood by ellipsis (see the first two lines of the verse).

[60:17]  ³ tn Or “peace” (KJV and many other English versions).

[60:17]  ⁴ tn The plural indicates degree. The language is ironic; in the past Zion was ruled by oppressive tyrants, but now personified prosperity and vindication will be the only things that will “dominate” the city.

[60:18]  ⁵ tn The words “sounds of” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[60:18]  ⁶ tn The words “sounds of” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[72:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “[the] mountains will bear peace to the people, and [the] hills with justice.” The personified mountains and hills probably represent messengers who will sweep over the land announcing the king’s just decrees and policies. See Isa 52:7 and C. A. Briggs and E. G. Briggs, Psalms (ICC), 2:133.

[72:4]  ⁸ tn Heb “judge [for].”

[72:4]  ⁹ tn The prefixed verbal form appears to be an imperfect, not a jussive.

[72:4]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “sons.”

[72:5]  ¹¹ tn In this context “fear” probably means “to demonstrate respect for the Lord’s power and authority by worshiping him and obeying his commandments.” See Ps 33:8. Some interpreters, with the support of the LXX, prefer to read וְיַאֲרִיךְ (vÿ’a’arikh, “and he [the king in this case] will prolong [days]”), that is, “will live a long time” (cf. NIV, NRSV).

[72:5]  ¹² tn God is the addressee (see vv. 1-2).

[72:5]  ¹³ tn Heb “with [the] sun, and before [the] moon [for] a generation, generations.” The rare expression דּוֹר דּוֹרִים (dor dorim, “generation, generations”) occurs only here, in Ps 102:24, and in Isa 51:8.

[72:6]  ¹⁴ tn That is, the king (see vv. 2, 4).

[72:6]  ¹⁵ tn The rare term zg refers to a sheep’s fleece in Deut 18:4 and Job 31:20, but to “mown” grass or crops here and in Amos 7:1.

[72:6]  ¹⁶ tc The form in the Hebrew text appears to be an otherwise unattested noun. Many prefer to emend the form to a verb from the root זָרַף (zaraf). BHS in textual note b on this verse suggests a Hiphil imperfect, third masculine plural יַזְרִיפוּ (yazrifu), while HALOT 283 s.v. *זרף prefers a Pilpel perfect, third masculine plural זִרְזְפוּ (zirzÿfu). The translation assumes the latter.

[72:6]  ¹⁷ sn The imagery of this verse compares the blessings produced by the king’s reign to fructifying rains that cause the crops to grow.

[72:7]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “sprout up,” like crops. This verse continues the metaphor of rain utilized in v. 6.

[72:7]  ¹⁹ tn Heb “and [there will be an] abundance of peace until there is no more moon.”