Psalms 45:3-5

Context

45:3 Strap your sword to your thigh, O warrior!¹

Appear in your majestic splendor!²

45:4 Appear in your majesty and be victorious!³

Ride forth for the sake of what is right,⁴

on behalf of justice!⁵

Then your right hand will accomplish mighty acts!⁶

45:5 Your arrows are sharp

and penetrate the hearts of the king’s enemies.

Nations fall at your feet.⁷

Psalms 68:12

Context

68:12 Kings leading armies run away – they run away!⁸

The lovely lady⁹ of the house divides up the loot.

Isaiah 41:2-3

Context

41:2 Who stirs up this one from the east?¹⁰

Who¹¹ officially commissions him for service?¹²

He hands nations over to him,¹³

and enables him to subdue¹⁴ kings.

He makes them like dust with his sword,

like windblown straw with his bow.¹⁵

41:3 He pursues them and passes by unharmed;¹⁶

he advances with great speed.¹⁷

[45:3] ¹tn Or “mighty one.”

[45:3] ²tn The Hebrew text has simply, “your majesty and your splendor,” which probably refers to the king’s majestic splendor when he appears in full royal battle regalia.

[45:4] ³tn Heb “and your majesty, be successful.” The syntax is awkward. The phrase “and your majesty” at the beginning of the verse may be accidentally repeated (dittography); it appears at the end of v. 3.

[45:4] ⁴tn Or “for the sake of truth.”

[45:4] ⁵tc The precise meaning of the MT is uncertain. The form עַנְוָה (’anvah) occurs only here. One could emend the text to עֲנָוָה וְצֶדֶק (’anavah vÿtsedeq, “[for the sake of truth], humility, and justice”). In this case “humility” would perhaps allude to the king’s responsibility to “serve” his people by promoting justice (cf. NIV “in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness”). The present translation assumes an emendation to יַעַן (ya’an, “because; on account of”) which would form a suitable parallel to עַל־דְּבַר (’al-dÿvar, “because; for the sake of”) in the preceding line.

[45:4] ⁶tn Heb “and your right hand will teach you mighty acts”; or “and may your right hand teach you mighty acts.” After the imperatives in the first half of the verse, the prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive likely indicates purpose (“so that your right hand might teach you mighty acts”) or result (see the present translation). The “right hand” here symbolizes the king’s military strength. His right hand will “teach” him mighty acts by performing them and thereby causing him to experience their magnificence.

[45:5] ⁷tn Heb “your arrows are sharp – peoples beneath you fall – in the heart of the enemies of the king.” The choppy style reflects the poet’s excitement.

[68:12] ⁸tn The verbal repetition draws attention to the statement.

[68:12] ⁹tn The Hebrew form appears to be the construct of נוּה (nuh, “pasture”) but the phrase “pasture of the house” makes no sense here. The translation assumes that the form is an alternative or corruption of נצוה (“beautiful woman”). A reference to a woman would be appropriate in light of v. 11b.

[41:2] ¹⁰sn The expression this one from the east refers to the Persian conqueror Cyrus, as later texts indicate (see 44:28-45:6; 46:11; 48:14-16).

[41:2] ¹¹tn The interrogative particle is understood by ellipsis.

[41:2] ¹²tn Heb “[in] righteousness called him to his foot.”

[41:2] ¹³tn Heb “he [the Lord] places before him [Cyrus] nations.”

[41:2] ¹⁴tn The verb יַרְדְּ (yardÿ) is an otherwise unattested Hiphil form from רָדָה (radah, “rule”). But the Hiphil makes no sense with “kings” as object; one must understand an ellipsis and supply “him” (Cyrus) as the object. The Qumran scroll 1QIsa^a has יוֹרִד (yorid), which appears to be a Hiphil form from יָרַד (yarad, “go down”). Others suggest reading יָרֹד (yarod), a Qal form from רָדַד (radad, “beat down”).

[41:2] ¹⁵sn The point is that they are powerless before Cyrus’ military power and scatter before him.

[41:3] ¹⁶tn Heb “[in] peace”; KJV, ASV “safely”; NASB “in safety”; NIV “unscathed.”

[41:3] ¹⁷tn Heb “a way with his feet he does not come [or “enter”].” One could translate, “by a way he was not [previously] entering with his feet.” This would mean that he is advancing into new territory and expanding his conquests. The present translation assumes this is a hyperbolic description to his speedy advance. He moves so quickly he does not enter the way with his feet, i.e., his feet don’t even touch the ground. See C. R. North, Second Isaiah, 94.