Psalms 12:6

12:6 The Lord’s words are absolutely reliable. ¹ 

They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground,

where it is thoroughly refined. ² 

Isaiah 45:23

45:23 I solemnly make this oath ³  –

what I say is true and reliable: ⁴ 

‘Surely every knee will bow to me,

every tongue will solemnly affirm; ⁵ 

Isaiah 63:1

The Victorious Divine Warrior

63:1 Who is this who comes from Edom, ⁶ 

dressed in bright red, coming from Bozrah? ⁷ 

Who ⁸  is this one wearing royal attire, ⁹ 

who marches confidently ¹⁰  because of his great strength?

“It is I, the one who announces vindication,

and who is able to deliver!” ¹¹ 

[12:6]  ¹ tn Heb “the words of the Lord are pure words,” i.e., untainted by falsehood or deception (in contrast to the flattery of the evildoers, v. 2).

[12:6]  ² tn Heb “[like] silver purified in a furnace of [i.e., “on”] the ground, refined seven times.” The singular participle מְזֻקָּק (mÿzuqqaq, “refined”) modifies “silver.” The number seven is used rhetorically to express the thorough nature of the action. For other rhetorical/figurative uses of שִׁבְעָתָיִם (shiv’atayim, “seven times”), see Gen 4:15, 24; Ps 79:12; Prov 6:31; Isa 30:26.

[45:23]  ³ tn Heb “I swear by myself”; KJV, NASB “have sworn.”

[45:23]  ⁴ tn Heb “a word goes out from my mouth [in] truth and will not return.”

[45:23]  ⁵ tn Heb “swear” (so KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV); NLT “confess allegiance.”

[63:1]  ⁶ sn Edom is here an archetype for the Lord’s enemies. See 34:5.

[63:1]  ⁷ tn Heb “[in] bright red garments, from Bozrah.”

[63:1]  ⁸ tn The interrogative particle is understood by ellipsis; note the first line of the verse.

[63:1]  ⁹ tn Heb “honored in his clothing”; KJV, ASV “glorious in his apparel.”

[63:1]  ¹⁰ tc The Hebrew text has צָעָה (tsa’ah), which means “stoop, bend” (51:14). The translation assumes an emendation to צָעַד (tsa’ad, “march”; see BDB 858 s.v. צָעָה).

[63:1]  ¹¹ tn Heb “I, [the one] speaking in vindication [or “righteousness”], great to deliver.”