Psalms 119:152

119:152 I learned long ago that

you ordained your rules to last. ¹ 

Psalms 24:2

24:2 For he set its foundation upon the seas,

and established ²  it upon the ocean currents. ³ 

Psalms 78:69

78:69 He made his sanctuary as enduring as the heavens above; ⁴ 

as secure as the earth, which he established permanently. ⁵ 

Psalms 102:25

102:25 In earlier times you established the earth;

the skies are your handiwork.

Psalms 2:2

2:2 The kings of the earth ⁶  form a united front; ⁷ 

the rulers collaborate ⁸ 

against the Lord and his anointed king. ⁹ 

Psalms 8:2

8:2 From the mouths of children and nursing babies

you have ordained praise on account of your adversaries, ¹⁰ 

so that you might put an end to the vindictive enemy. ¹¹ 

Psalms 89:11

89:11 The heavens belong to you, as does the earth.

You made the world and all it contains. ¹² 

Psalms 104:8

104:8 as the mountains rose up,

and the valleys went down –

to the place you appointed for them. ¹³ 

Psalms 31:13

31:13 For I hear what so many are saying, ¹⁴ 

the terrifying news that comes from every direction. ¹⁵ 

When they plot together against me,

they figure out how they can take my life.

[119:152]  ¹ tn Heb “long ago I knew concerning your rules, that forever you established them.” See v. 89 for the same idea. The translation assumes that the preposition מִן (min) prefixed to “your rules” introduces the object of the verb יָדַע (yada’), as in 1 Sam 23:23. Another option is that the preposition indicates source, in which case one might translate, “Long ago I realized from your rules that forever you established them” (cf. NIV, NRSV).

[24:2]  ² tn The prefixed verbal form is understood as a preterite, referring to the creation of the world.

[24:2]  ³ sn He…established it upon the ocean currents. The description reflects ancient Israelite prescientific cosmology, which is based on outward appearances. The language also suggests that God’s creative work involved the subjugation of chaos, symbolized by the sea.

[78:69]  ³ tc Heb “and he built like the exalting [ones] his sanctuary.” The phrase כְּמוֹ־רָמִים (kÿmo-ramim, “like the exalting [ones]”) is a poetic form of the comparative preposition followed by a participial form of the verb רוּם (rum, “be exalted”). The text should be emended to כִּמְרֹמִים (kimromim, “like the [heavenly] heights”). See Ps 148:1, where “heights” refers to the heavens above.

[78:69]  ⁴ tn Heb “like the earth, [which] he established permanently.” The feminine singular suffix on the Hebrew verb יָסַד (yasad, “to establish”) refers to the grammatically feminine noun “earth.”

[2:2]  ⁴ sn The expression kings of the earth refers somewhat hyperbolically to the kings who had been conquered by and were subject to the Davidic king.

[2:2]  ⁵ tn Or “take their stand.” The Hebrew imperfect verbal form describes their action as underway.

[2:2]  ⁶ tn Or “conspire together.” The verbal form is a Niphal from יָסַד (yasad). BDB 413-14 s.v. יָסַד defines the verb as “establish, found,” but HALOT 417 s.v. II יסד proposes a homonym meaning “get together, conspire” (an alternate form of סוּד, sud).

[2:2]  ⁷ tn Heb “and against his anointed one.” The Davidic king is the referent (see vv. 6-7).

[8:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “you establish strength because of your foes.” The meaning of the statement is unclear. The present translation follows the reading of the LXX which has “praise” (αἶνος, ainos) in place of “strength” (עֹז, ’oz); cf. NIV, NCV, NLT.

[8:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “to cause to cease an enemy and an avenger.” The singular forms are collective. The Hitpael participle of נָקַם (naqam) also occurs in Ps 44:16.

[89:11]  ⁶ tn Heb “the world and its fullness, you established them.”

[104:8]  ⁷ tn Heb “from your shout they fled, from the sound of your thunder they hurried off.”

[31:13]  ⁸ tn Heb “the report of many.”

[31:13]  ⁹ tn Heb “the terror from all around.”