Psalms 58:10-11

58:10 The godly ¹  will rejoice when they see vengeance carried out;

they will bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.

58:11 Then ²  observers ³  will say,

“Yes indeed, the godly are rewarded! ⁴ 

Yes indeed, there is a God who judges ⁵  in the earth!”

Ecclesiastes 11:9

Enjoy Life to the Fullest under the Fear of God

11:9 Rejoice, young man, while you are young, ⁶ 

and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth.

Follow the impulses ⁷  of your heart and the desires ⁸  of your eyes,

but know that God will judge your motives and actions. ⁹ 

Matthew 7:1-2

Do Not Judge

7:1 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. ¹⁰  7:2 For by the standard you judge you will be judged, and the measure you use will be the measure you receive. ¹¹ 

James 4:11-12

4:11 Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. ¹²  He who speaks against a fellow believer ¹³  or judges a fellow believer speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but its judge. ¹⁴  4:12 But there is only one who is lawgiver and judge – the one who is able to save and destroy. On the other hand, who are you to judge your neighbor? ¹⁵ 

[58:10]  ¹ tn The singular is representative here, as is the singular from “wicked” in the next line.

[58:11]  ² tn Following the imperfects of v. 10, the prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive probably indicates a result or consequence of what precedes.

[58:11]  ³ tn Heb “man.” The singular is representative here.

[58:11]  ⁴ tn Heb “surely [there] is fruit for the godly.”

[58:11]  ⁵ tn The plural participle is unusual here if the preceding אֱלֹהִים (’elohim) is here a plural of majesty, referring to the one true God. Occasionally the plural of majesty does take a plural attributive (see GKC 428-29 §132.h). It is possible that the final mem (ם) on the participle is enclitic, and that it was later misunderstood as a plural ending. Another option is to translate, “Yes indeed, there are gods who judge in the earth.” In this case, the statement reflects the polytheistic mindset of pagan observers who, despite their theological ignorance, nevertheless recognize divine retribution when they see it.

[11:9]  ⁶ tn Heb “in your youth”; or “in your childhood.”

[11:9]  ⁷ tn Heb “walk in the ways of your heart.”

[11:9]  ⁸ tn Heb “the sight.”

[11:9]  ⁹ tn Heb “and know that concerning all these God will bring you into judgment.” The point is not that following one’s impulses and desires is inherently bad and will bring condemnation from God. Rather the point seems to be: As you follow your impulses and desires, realize that all you think and do will eventually be evaluated by God. So one must seek joy within the boundaries of God’s moral standards.

[7:1]  ¹⁰ sn The point of the statement do not judge so that you will not be judged is that the standards we apply to others God applies to us. The passive verbs in this verse look to God’s action.

[7:2]  ¹¹ tn Grk “by [the measure] with which you measure it will be measured to you.”

[4:11]  ¹² tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.

[4:11]  ¹³ tn See note on the word “believer” in 1:9.

[4:11]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “a judge.”

[4:12]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “who judges your neighbor.”