Psalms 105:8-15

105:8 He always remembers his covenantal decree,

the promise he made ¹  to a thousand generations –

105:9 the promise ²  he made to Abraham,

the promise he made by oath to Isaac!

105:10 He gave it to Jacob as a decree,

to Israel as a lasting promise, ³ 

105:11 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan

as the portion of your inheritance.”

105:12 When they were few in number,

just a very few, and resident aliens within it,

105:13 they wandered from nation to nation,

and from one kingdom to another. ⁴ 

105:14 He let no one oppress them;

he disciplined kings for their sake,

105:15 saying, ⁵  “Don’t touch my chosen ⁶  ones!

Don’t harm my prophets!”

[105:8]  ¹ tn Heb “[the] word he commanded.” The text refers here to God’s unconditional covenantal promise to Abraham and the patriarchs, as vv. 10-12 make clear.

[105:9]  ² tn Heb “which.”

[105:10]  ³ tn Or “eternal covenant.”

[105:13]  ⁴ tn Heb “and from a kingdom to another nation.”

[105:15]  ⁵ tn The word “saying” is supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.

[105:15]  ⁶ tn Heb “anointed.”