Psalms 135:14-21

135:14 For the Lord vindicates ¹  his people,

and has compassion on his servants. ² 

135:15 The nations’ idols are made of silver and gold,

they are man-made. ³ 

135:16 They have mouths, but cannot speak,

eyes, but cannot see,

135:17 and ears, but cannot hear.

Indeed, they cannot breathe. ⁴ 

135:18 Those who make them will end up ⁵  like them,

as will everyone who trusts in them.

135:19 O family ⁶  of Israel, praise the Lord!

O family of Aaron, praise the Lord!

135:20 O family of Levi, praise the Lord!

You loyal followers ⁷  of the Lord, praise the Lord!

135:21 The Lord deserves praise in Zion ⁸  –

he who dwells in Jerusalem. ⁹ 

Praise the Lord!

[135:14]  ¹ tn Heb “judges,” but here the idea is that the Lord “judges on behalf of” his people. The imperfect verbal forms here and in the next line draw attention to the Lord’s characteristic actions.

[135:14]  ² sn Verse 14 echoes Deut 32:36, where Moses affirms that God mercifully relents from fully judging his wayward people.

[135:15]  ³ tn Heb “the work of the hands of man.”

[135:17]  ⁴ tn Heb “indeed, there is not breath in their mouth.” For the collocation אַף אֵין (’af ’en, “indeed, there is not”) see Isa 41:26. Another option is to take אַף as “nose” (see Ps 115:6), in which case one might translate, “a nose, [but] they have no breath in their mouths.”

[135:18]  ⁵ tn Heb “will be.” Another option is to take the prefixed verbal form as a prayer, “may those who make them end up like them.”

[135:19]  ⁶ tn Heb “house” (here and in the next two lines).

[135:20]  ⁷ tn Heb “fearers.”

[135:21]  ⁸ tn Heb “praised be the Lord from Zion.”

[135:21]  ⁹ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.