Psalms 2:4

2:4 The one enthroned ¹  in heaven laughs in disgust; ² 

the Lord taunts ³  them.

Psalms 73:9

73:9 They speak as if they rule in heaven,

and lay claim to the earth. ⁴ 

Psalms 78:23

78:23 He gave a command to the clouds above,

and opened the doors in the sky.

Psalms 78:26

78:26 He brought the east wind through the sky,

and by his strength led forth the south wind.

Psalms 104:2

104:2 He covers himself with light as if it were a garment.

He stretches out the skies like a tent curtain,

Psalms 105:40

105:40 They asked for food, ⁵  and he sent quails;

he satisfied them with food from the sky. ⁶ 

Psalms 113:6

113:6 He bends down to look ⁷ 

at the sky and the earth.

Psalms 115:3

115:3 Our God is in heaven!

He does whatever he pleases! ⁸ 

Psalms 115:15

115:15 May you be blessed by the Lord,

the creator ⁹  of heaven and earth!

Psalms 119:89

ל (Lamed)

119:89 O Lord, your instructions endure;

they stand secure in heaven. ¹⁰ 

Psalms 121:2

121:2 My help comes from the Lord, ¹¹ 

the Creator ¹²  of heaven and earth!

Psalms 124:8

124:8 Our deliverer is the Lord, ¹³ 

the Creator ¹⁴  of heaven and earth.

Psalms 134:3

134:3 May the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth,

bless you ¹⁵  from Zion! ¹⁶ 

Psalms 136:5

136:5 to the one who used wisdom to make the heavens,

for his loyal love endures,

Psalms 136:26

136:26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,

for his loyal love endures!

[2:4]  ¹ tn Heb “sitting.” The Hebrew verb יָשַׁב (yashav) is here used metonymically of “sitting enthroned” (see Pss 9:7; 29:10; 55:19; 102:12; 123:1).

[2:4]  ² tn As the next line indicates, this refers to derisive laughter. The Hebrew imperfect verbal forms in vv. 4-5 describe the action from the perspective of an eyewitness who is watching the divine response as it unfolds before his eyes.

[2:4]  ³ tn Or “scoffs at”; “derides”; “mocks.”

[73:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “they set in heaven their mouth, and their tongue walks through the earth.” The meaning of the text is uncertain. Perhaps the idea is that they lay claim to heaven (i.e., speak as if they were ruling in heaven) and move through the earth declaring their superiority and exerting their influence. Some take the preposition -בְּ (bet) the first line as adversative and translate, “they set their mouth against heaven,” that is, they defy God.

[105:40]  ⁷ tn Heb “he [i.e., his people] asked.” The singular form should probably be emended to a plural שָׁאֲלוּ (sha’alu, “they asked”), the vav (ו) having fallen off by haplography (note the vav at the beginning of the following form).

[105:40]  ⁸ tn Or “bread of heaven.” The reference is to manna (see Exod 16:4, 13-15).

[113:6]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “the one who makes low to see.”

[115:3]  ¹³ sn He does whatever he pleases. Such sovereignty is characteristic of kings (see Eccl 8:3).

[115:15]  ¹⁶ tn Or “maker.”

[119:89]  ¹⁹ tn Heb “Forever, O Lord, your word stands firm in heaven,” or “Forever, O Lord, [is] your word; it stands firm in heaven.” The translation assumes that “your word” refers here to the body of divine instructions contained in the law (note the frequent references to the law in vv. 92-96). See vv. 9, 16-17, 57, 101, 105, 130, 139 and 160-61. The reference in v. 86 to God’s law being faithful favors this interpretation. Another option is that “your word” refers to God’s assuring word of promise, mentioned in vv. 25, 28, 42, 65, 74, 81, 107, 114, 147 and 169. In this case one might translate, “O Lord, your promise is reliable, it stands firm in heaven.”

[121:2]  ²² tn Heb “my help [is] from with the Lord.”

[121:2]  ²³ tn Or “Maker.”

[124:8]  ²⁵ tn Heb “our help [is] in the name of the Lord.”

[124:8]  ²⁶ tn Or “Maker.”

[134:3]  ²⁸ tn The pronominal suffix is second masculine singular, suggesting that the servants addressed in vv. 1-2 are responding to the psalmist.

[134:3]  ²⁹ tn Heb “may the Lord bless you from Zion, the maker of heaven and earth.”