Psalms 106:34-42

106:34 They did not destroy the nations, ¹ 

as the Lord had commanded them to do.

106:35 They mixed in with the nations

and learned their ways. ² 

106:36 They worshiped ³  their idols,

which became a snare to them. ⁴ 

106:37 They sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons. ⁵ 

106:38 They shed innocent blood –

the blood of their sons and daughters,

whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan.

The land was polluted by bloodshed. ⁶ 

106:39 They were defiled by their deeds,

and unfaithful in their actions. ⁷ 

106:40 So the Lord was angry with his people ⁸ 

and despised the people who belong to him. ⁹ 

106:41 He handed them over to ¹⁰  the nations,

and those who hated them ruled over them.

106:42 Their enemies oppressed them;

they were subject to their authority. ¹¹ 

[106:34]  ¹ tn That is, the nations of Canaan.

[106:35]  ² tn Heb “their deeds.”

[106:36]  ³ tn Or “served.”

[106:36]  ⁴ sn Became a snare. See Exod 23:33; Judg 2:3.

[106:37]  ⁵ tn The Hebrew term שֵׁדִים (shedim, “demons”) occurs only here and in Deut 32:17. Some type of lesser deity is probably in view.

[106:38]  ⁶ sn Num 35:33-34 explains that bloodshed defiles a land.

[106:39]  ⁷ tn Heb “and they committed adultery in their actions.” This means that they were unfaithful to the Lord (see Ps 73:27).

[106:40]  ⁸ tn Heb “the anger of the Lord burned against his people.”

[106:40]  ⁹ tn Heb “his inheritance.”

[106:41]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “gave them into the hand of.”

[106:42]  ¹¹ tn Heb “they were subdued under their hand.”