Psalms 20:7

20:7 Some trust in chariots and others in horses, ¹ 

but we ²  depend on ³  the Lord our God.

Psalms 33:17-18

33:17 A horse disappoints those who trust in it for victory; ⁴ 

despite its great strength, it cannot deliver.

33:18 Look, the Lord takes notice of his loyal followers, ⁵ 

those who wait for him to demonstrate his faithfulness ⁶ 

Psalms 147:10

147:10 He is not enamored with the strength of a horse,

nor is he impressed by the warrior’s strong legs. ⁷ 

Ecclesiastes 9:11

Wisdom Cannot Protect against Seemingly Chance Events

9:11 Again, ⁸  I observed this on the earth: ⁹ 

the race is not always ¹⁰  won by the swiftest,

the battle is not always won by the strongest;

prosperity ¹¹  does not always belong to those who are the wisest,

wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning,

nor does success ¹²  always come to those with the most knowledge –

for time and chance may overcome ¹³  them all.

Isaiah 31:1

Egypt Will Disappoint

31:1 Those who go down to Egypt for help are as good as dead, ¹⁴ 

those who rely on war horses,

and trust in Egypt’s many chariots ¹⁵ 

and in their many, many horsemen. ¹⁶ 

But they do not rely on the Holy One of Israel ¹⁷ 

and do not seek help from the Lord.

[20:7]  ¹ tn Heb “these in chariots and these in horses.” No verb appears; perhaps the verb “invoke” is to be supplied from the following line. In this case the idea would be that some “invoke” (i.e., trust in) their military might for victory (cf. NEB “boast”; NIV “trust”; NRSV “take pride”). Verse 8 suggests that the “some/others” mentioned here are the nation’s enemies.

[20:7]  ² tn The grammatical construction (conjunction + pronominal subject) highlights the contrast between God’s faithful people and the others mentioned in the previous line.

[20:7]  ³ tn Heb “we invoke the name of.” The Hiphil of זָכַר (zakhar), when combined with the phrase “in the name,” means “to invoke” (see Josh 23:7; Isa 48:1; Amos 6:10). By invoking the Lord’s name in prayer, the people demonstrate their trust in him.

[33:17]  ⁴ tn Heb “a lie [is] the horse for victory.”

[33:18]  ⁵ tn Heb “look, the eye of the Lord [is] toward the ones who fear him.” The expression “the eye…[is] toward” here indicates recognition and the bestowing of favor. See Ps 34:15. The one who fears the Lord respects his sovereignty and obeys his commandments. See Ps 128:1; Prov 14:2.

[33:18]  ⁶ tn Heb “for the ones who wait for his faithfulness.”

[147:10]  ⁷ tn Heb “he does not desire the strength of the horse, he does not take delight in the legs of the man.” Here “the horse” refers to the war horse used by ancient Near Eastern chariot forces, and “the man” refers to the warrior whose muscular legs epitomize his strength.

[9:11]  ⁸ tn Heb “I returned and.” In the Hebrew idiom, “to return and do” means “to do again.”

[9:11]  ⁹ tn Heb “under the sun.”

[9:11]  ¹⁰ tn The term “always” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation (five times in this verse) for clarity.

[9:11]  ¹¹ tn Heb “bread.”

[9:11]  ¹² tn Heb “favor.”

[9:11]  ¹³ tn Heb “happen to.”

[31:1]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “Woe [to] those who go down to Egypt for help.”

[31:1]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “and trust in chariots for they are many.”

[31:1]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “and in horsemen for they are very strong [or “numerous”].”

[31:1]  ¹⁷ sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.