Psalms 107:26-27

107:26 They ¹  reached up to the sky,

then dropped into the depths.

The sailors’ strength ²  left them ³  because the danger was so great. ⁴ 

107:27 They swayed ⁵  and staggered like a drunk,

and all their skill proved ineffective. ⁶ 

[107:26]  ¹ tn That is, the waves (see v. 25).

[107:26]  ² tn Heb “their being”; traditionally “their soul” (referring to that of the sailors). This is sometimes translated “courage” (cf. NIV, NRSV).

[107:26]  ³ tn Or “melted.”

[107:26]  ⁴ tn Heb “from danger.”

[107:27]  ⁵ tn Only here does the Hebrew verb חָגַג (khagag; normally meaning “to celebrate”) carry the nuance “to sway.”

[107:27]  ⁶ tn The Hitpael of בָלַע (vala’) occurs only here in the OT. Traditionally the form is derived from the verbal root בלע (“to swallow”), but HALOT 135 s.v. III בלע understands a homonym here with the meaning “to be confused.”