Psalms 119:57

ח (Khet)

119:57 The Lord is my source of security. ¹ 

I have determined ²  to follow your instructions. ³ 

Psalms 16:5

16:5 Lord, you give me stability and prosperity; ⁴ 

you make my future secure. ⁵ 

Psalms 142:5

142:5 I cry out to you, O Lord;

I say, “You are my shelter,

my security ⁶  in the land of the living.”

[119:57]  ¹ tn Heb “my portion [is] the Lord.” The psalmist compares the Lord to landed property, which was foundational to economic stability in ancient Israel (see Ps 16:5).

[119:57]  ² tn Heb “I said.”

[119:57]  ³ tn Heb “to keep your words” (see v. 9).

[16:5]  ⁴ tn Heb “O Lord, the portion of my possession and my cup”; or “the Lord [is] the portion of my possession and my cup.” The psalmist compares the Lord to landed property, which was foundational to economic stability in ancient Israel, and to a cup of wine, which may symbolize a reward (in Ps 11:6 it symbolizes the judgment one deserves) or divine blessing (see Ps 23:5). The metaphor highlights the fact that God is the psalmist’s source of security and prosperity.

[16:5]  ⁵ tc Heb “you take hold of my lot.” The form תּוֹמִיךְ (tomikh) should be emended to a participle, תוֹמֵךְ (tomekh). The psalmist pictures the Lord as casting his lot (a method used to allot landed property) for him, thus assuring that he will receive a fertile piece of land (see v. 6). As in the previous line, land represents security and economic stability, thus “you make my future secure.”

[142:5]  ⁷ tn Heb “my portion.” The psalmist compares the Lord to landed property, which was foundational to economic stability in ancient Israel.