Psalms 14:5

14:5 They are absolutely terrified, ¹ 

for God defends the godly. ² 

Psalms 31:12

31:12 I am forgotten, like a dead man no one thinks about; ³ 

I am regarded as worthless, like a broken jar. ⁴ 

Psalms 53:2

53:2 God looks down from heaven ⁵  at the human race, ⁶ 

to see if there is anyone who is wise ⁷  and seeks God. ⁸ 

Psalms 73:2

73:2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped;

my feet almost slid out from under me. ⁹ 

Psalms 85:1

Psalm 85 ¹⁰ 

For the music director; written by the Korahites, a psalm.

85:1 O Lord, you showed favor to your land;

you restored the well-being of Jacob. ¹¹ 

Psalms 102:20

102:20 in order to hear the painful cries of the prisoners,

and to set free those condemned to die, ¹² 

[14:5]  ¹ tn Heb “there they are afraid [with] fear.” The perfect verbal form is probably used in a rhetorical manner; the psalmist describes the future demise of the oppressors as if it were already occurring. The adverb שָׁם (sham, “there”) is also used here for dramatic effect, as the psalmist envisions the wicked standing in fear at a spot that is this vivid in his imagination (BDB 1027 s.v.). The cognate accusative following the verb emphasizes the degree of their terror.

[14:5]  ² tn Heb “for God is with a godly generation.” The Hebrew noun דּוֹר (dor, “generation”) refers here to the general class of people who are characterized by godliness. See BDB 190 s.v. for other examples where “generation” refers to a class of people.

[31:12]  ³ tn Heb “I am forgotten, like a dead man, from [the] heart.” The “heart” is here viewed as the center of one’s thoughts.

[31:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “I am like a broken jar.” One throws away a broken jar without a second thought because it is considered worthless and useless.

[53:2]  ⁵ sn The picture of the Lord looking down from heaven draws attention to his sovereignty over the world.

[53:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “upon the sons of man.”

[53:2]  ⁷ tn Or “acts wisely.” The Hiphil is exhibitive.

[53:2]  ⁸ tn That is, who seeks to have a relationship with God by obeying and worshiping him.

[73:2]  ⁷ tn The Hebrew verb normally means “to pour out,” but here it must have the nuance “to slide.”

[85:1]  ⁹ sn Psalm 85. God’s people recall how he forgave their sins in the past, pray that he might now restore them to his favor, and anticipate renewed blessings.

[85:1]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “you turned with a turning [toward] Jacob.” The Hebrew term שְׁבוּת (shÿvut) is apparently a cognate accusative of שׁוּב (shuv). See Pss 14:7; 53:6.

[102:20]  ¹¹ tn Heb “the sons of death.” The phrase “sons of death” (see also Ps 79:11) is idiomatic for those condemned to die.