Psalms 58:11

58:11 Then ¹  observers ²  will say,

“Yes indeed, the godly are rewarded! ³ 

Yes indeed, there is a God who judges ⁴  in the earth!”

Psalms 64:9

64:9 and all people will fear. ⁵ 

They will proclaim ⁶  what God has done,

and reflect on his deeds.

Psalms 126:2

126:2 At that time we laughed loudly

and shouted for joy. ⁷ 

At that time the nations said, ⁸ 

“The Lord has accomplished great things for these people.”

Jeremiah 33:9

33:9 All the nations will hear about all the good things which I will do to them. This city will bring me fame, honor, and praise before them for the joy that I bring it. The nations will tremble in awe at all the peace and prosperity that I will provide for it.’ ⁹ 

[58:11]  ¹ 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]  ² tn Heb “man.” The singular is representative here.

[58:11]  ³ tn Heb “surely [there] is fruit for the godly.”

[58:11]  ⁴ 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.

[64:9]  ⁵ tc Many medieval Hebrew mss read וַיִּרְאוּ (vayyir’u, “and they will see”) instead of וַיִּירְאוּ (vayyirÿ’u, “and they will proclaim”).

[64:9]  ⁶ tn Heb “the work of God,” referring to the judgment described in v. 7.

[126:2]  ⁷ tn Heb “then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with a shout.”

[126:2]  ⁸ tn Heb “they said among the nations.”

[33:9]  ⁹ tn Heb “And it [the city] will be to me for a name for joy and for praise and for honor before all the nations of the earth which will hear of all the good things which I will do for them and which will be in awe and tremble for all the good things and all the peace [or prosperity] which I will do for them.” The long complex Hebrew sentence has been broken down to better conform with contemporary English style.