Psalms 149:4-9

149:4 For the Lord takes delight in his people;

he exalts the oppressed by delivering them. ¹ 

149:5 Let the godly rejoice because of their vindication! ² 

Let them shout for joy upon their beds! ³ 

149:6 May they praise God

while they hold a two-edged sword in their hand, ⁴ 

149:7 in order to take ⁵  revenge on the nations,

and punish foreigners.

149:8 They bind ⁶  their kings in chains,

and their nobles in iron shackles,

149:9 and execute the judgment to which their enemies ⁷  have been sentenced. ⁸ 

All his loyal followers will be vindicated. ⁹ 

Praise the Lord!

[149:4]  ¹ tn Heb “he honors the oppressed [with] deliverance.”

[149:5]  ² tn Heb “in glory.” Here “glory” probably refers to the “honor” that belongs to the Lord’s people as a result of their deliverance (see v. 4).

[149:5]  ³ tn The significance of the reference to “beds” is unclear. Perhaps the point is that they should rejoice at all times, even when falling asleep or awaking.

[149:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “[May] praises of God [be] in their throat, and a two-edged sword in their hand.”

[149:7]  ⁵ tn Heb “to do.”

[149:8]  ⁶ tn Heb “to bind.”

[149:9]  ⁷ tn Heb “they”; the referent (the enemies of the people of God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[149:9]  ⁸ tn Heb “to do against them judgment [that] is written.”

[149:9]  ⁹ tn Heb “it is honor for all his godly ones.” The judgment of the oppressive kings will bring vindication and honor to God’s people (see vv. 4-5).