Psalms 149:6-9

149:6 May they praise God

while they hold a two-edged sword in their hand, ¹ 

149:7 in order to take ²  revenge on the nations,

and punish foreigners.

149:8 They bind ³  their kings in chains,

and their nobles in iron shackles,

149:9 and execute the judgment to which their enemies ⁴  have been sentenced. ⁵ 

All his loyal followers will be vindicated. ⁶ 

Praise the Lord!

[149:6]  ¹ tn Heb “[May] praises of God [be] in their throat, and a two-edged sword in their hand.”

[149:7]  ² tn Heb “to do.”

[149:8]  ³ tn Heb “to bind.”

[149:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “they”; the referent (the enemies of the people of God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[149:9]  ⁵ tn Heb “to do against them judgment [that] is written.”

[149:9]  ⁶ 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).