Psalms 18:30

18:30 The one true God acts in a faithful manner; ¹ 

the Lord’s promise ²  is reliable; ³ 

he is a shield to all who take shelter ⁴  in him.

Psalms 19:7

19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect

and preserves one’s life. ⁵ 

The rules set down by the Lord ⁶  are reliable ⁷ 

and impart wisdom to the inexperienced. ⁸ 

Psalms 101:2

101:2 I will walk in ⁹  the way of integrity.

When will you come to me?

I will conduct my business with integrity in the midst of my palace. ¹⁰ 

Psalms 101:6

101:6 I will favor the honest people of the land, ¹¹ 

and allow them to live with me. ¹² 

Those who walk in the way of integrity will attend me. ¹³ 

[18:30]  ¹ tn Heb “[As for] the God, his way is blameless.” The term הָאֵל (ha’el, “the God”) stands as a nominative (or genitive) absolute in apposition to the resumptive pronominal suffix on “way.” The prefixed article emphasizes his distinctiveness as the one true God (cf. Deut 33:26). God’s “way” in this context refers to his protective and salvific acts in fulfillment of his promise (see also Deut 32:4; Pss 67:2; 77:13 [note vv. 11-12, 14]; 103:7; 138:5; 145:17).

[18:30]  ² sn The Lord’s promise. In the ancient Near East kings would typically seek and receive oracles from their god(s) prior to battle. For examples, see R. B. Chisholm, “An Exegetical and Theological Study of Psalm 18/2 Samuel 22” (Th.D. diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 1983), 241-42.

[18:30]  ³ tn Heb “the word of the Lord is purified.” The Lord’s “word” probably refers here to his oracle(s) of victory delivered to the psalmist before the battle(s) described in the following context. See also Pss 12:5-7 and 138:2-3. David frequently received such oracles before going into battle (see 1 Sam 23:2, 4-5, 10-12; 30:8; 2 Sam 5:19). The Lord’s word of promise is absolutely reliable; it is compared to metal that has been refined in fire and cleansed of impurities. See Ps 12:6.

[18:30]  ⁴ sn Take shelter. See the note on the word “shelter” in v. 2.

[19:7]  ⁵ tn Heb “[it] restores life.” Elsewhere the Hiphil of שׁוּב (shuv, “return”) when used with נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “life”) as object, means to “rescue or preserve one’s life” (Job 33:30; Ps 35:17) or to “revive one’s strength” (emotionally or physically; cf. Ruth 4:15; Lam 1:11, 16, 19). Here the point seems to be that the law preserves the life of the one who studies it by making known God’s will. Those who know God’s will know how to please him and can avoid offending him. See v. 11a.

[19:7]  ⁶ tn Traditionally, “the testimony of the Lord.” The noun עֵדוּת (’edut) refers here to the demands of God’s covenant law.

[19:7]  ⁷ tn God’s covenant contains a clear, reliable witness to his moral character and demands.

[19:7]  ⁸ tn Or “the [morally] naive,” that is, the one who is young and still in the process of learning right from wrong and distinguishing wisdom from folly.

[101:2]  ⁹ tn Heb “take notice of.”

[101:2]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “I will walk about in the integrity of my heart in the midst of my house.”

[101:6]  ¹³ tn Heb “my eyes [are] on the faithful of the land.”

[101:6]  ¹⁴ tn The Hebrew text simply reads, “in order to live with me.”

[101:6]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “one who walks in the way of integrity, he will minister to me.”