Psalms 9:3-4

9:3 When my enemies turn back,

they trip and are defeated ¹  before you.

9:4 For you defended my just cause; ² 

from your throne you pronounced a just decision. ³ 

Jeremiah 5:28

5:28 That is how ⁴  they have grown fat and sleek. ⁵ 

There is no limit to the evil things they do. ⁶ 

They do not plead the cause of the fatherless in such a way as to win it.

They do not defend the rights of the poor.

[9:3]  ¹ tn Or “perish”; or “die.” The imperfect verbal forms in this line either emphasize what typically happens or describe vividly the aftermath of a recent battle in which the Lord defeated the psalmist’s enemies.

[9:4]  ² tn Heb “for you accomplished my justice and my legal claim.”

[9:4]  ³ tn Heb “you sat on a throne [as] one who judges [with] righteousness.” The perfect verbal forms in v. 4 probably allude to a recent victory (see vv. 5-7). Another option is to understand the verbs as describing what is typical (“you defend…you sit on a throne”).

[5:28]  ⁴ tn These words are not in the text but are supplied in the translation to show that this line is parallel with the preceding.

[5:28]  ⁵ tn The meaning of this word is uncertain. This verb occurs only here. The lexicons generally relate it to the word translated “plate” in Song 5:14 and understand it to mean “smooth, shiny” (so BDB 799 s.v. I עֶשֶׁת) or “fat” (so HALOT 850 s.v. II עֶשֶׁת). The word in Song 5:14 more likely means “smooth” than “plate” (so TEV). So “sleek” is most likely here.

[5:28]  ⁶ tn Heb “they cross over/transgress with respect to matters of evil.”