Psalms 18:14

18:14 He shot his ¹  arrows and scattered them, ² 

many lightning bolts ³  and routed them. ⁴ 

Psalms 19:11

19:11 Yes, your servant finds moral guidance there; ⁵ 

those who obey them receive a rich reward. ⁶ 

Psalms 25:11

25:11 For the sake of your reputation, ⁷  O Lord,

forgive my sin, because it is great. ⁸ 

Psalms 37:11

37:11 But the oppressed will possess the land

and enjoy great prosperity. ⁹ 

Psalms 68:11

68:11 The Lord speaks; ¹⁰ 

many, many women spread the good news. ¹¹ 

Psalms 119:162

119:162 I rejoice in your instructions,

like one who finds much plunder. ¹² 

Psalms 119:165

119:165 Those who love your law are completely secure; ¹³ 

nothing causes them to stumble. ¹⁴ 

Psalms 123:3

123:3 Show us favor, O Lord, show us favor!

For we have had our fill of humiliation, and then some. ¹⁵ 

[18:14]  ¹ tn 2 Sam 22:15 omits the pronominal suffix (“his”).

[18:14]  ² tn The pronominal suffixes on the verbs “scattered” and “routed” (see the next line) refer to the psalmist’s enemies. Some argue that the suffixes refer to the arrows, in which case one might translate “shot them far and wide” and “made them move noisily,” respectively. They argue that the enemies have not been mentioned since v. 4 and are not again mentioned until v. 17. However, usage of the verbs פוּץ (puts, “scatter”) and הָמַם (hamam, “rout”) elsewhere in Holy War accounts suggests the suffixes refer to enemies. Enemies are frequently pictured in such texts as scattered and/or routed (see Exod 14:24; 23:27; Num 10:35; Josh 10:10; Judg 4:15; 1 Sam 7:10; 11:11; Ps 68:1).

[18:14]  ³ sn Lightning is a common motif in in OT theophanies and in ancient Near Eastern portrayals of the storm god and warring kings. See R. B. Chisholm, “An Exegetical and Theological Study of Psalm 18/2 Samuel 22” (Th.D. diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 1983), 190-92.

[18:14]  ⁴ tn Heb “lightning bolts, many.” 2 Sam 22:15 has simply “lightning” (בָּרָק, baraq). The identity of the word רָב (rav) in Ps 18:14 is problematic. (1) It may be a form of a rare verb רָבַב (ravav, “to shoot”), perhaps attested in Gen 49:23 as well. In this case one might translate, “he shot lightning bolts and routed them.” Other options include (2) understanding רָב (rav) as an adverbial use of the adjective, “lightning bolts in abundance,” or (3) emending the form to רַבּוּ (rabbu), from רָבַב (ravav, “be many”) or to רָבוּ (ravu), from רָבָה (ravah, “be many”) – both a haplography of the vav (ו); note the initial vav on the immediately following form – and translating “lightning bolts were in abundance.”

[19:11]  ⁵ tn Heb “moreover your servant is warned by them.”

[19:11]  ⁶ tn Heb “in the keeping of them [there is] a great reward.”

[25:11]  ⁹ tn Heb “name.” By forgiving the sinful psalmist, the Lord’s reputation as a merciful God will be enhanced.

[25:11]  ¹⁰ sn Forgive my sin, because it is great. The psalmist readily admits his desperate need for forgiveness.

[37:11]  ¹³ tn Heb “and they will take delight in (see v. 4) abundance of peace.”

[68:11]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “gives a word.” Perhaps this refers to a divine royal decree or battle cry.

[68:11]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “the ones spreading the good news [are] a large army.” The participle translated “the ones spreading the good news” is a feminine plural form. Apparently the good news here is the announcement that enemy kings have been defeated (see v. 12).

[119:162]  ²¹ tn Heb “like one who finds great plunder.” See Judg 5:30. The image is that of a victorious warrior who finds a large amount of plunder on the field of battle.

[119:165]  ²⁵ tn Heb “great peace [is] to the lovers of your law.”

[119:165]  ²⁶ tn Heb “and there is no stumbling to them.”

[123:3]  ²⁹ tn Heb “for greatly we are filled [with] humiliation.”