Psalms 20:6

20:6 Now I am sure ¹  that the Lord will deliver ²  his chosen king; ³ 

he will intervene for him ⁴  from his holy heavenly temple, ⁵ 

and display his mighty ability to deliver. ⁶ 

Psalms 98:1

Psalm 98 ⁷ 

A psalm.

98:1 Sing to the Lord a new song, ⁸ 

for he performs ⁹  amazing deeds!

His right hand and his mighty arm

accomplish deliverance. ¹⁰ 

[20:6]  ¹ tn Or “know.”

[20:6]  ² tn The perfect verbal form is probably used rhetorically to state that the deliverance is as good as done. In this way the speaker emphasizes the certainty of the deliverance. Another option is to take the statement as generalizing; the psalmist affirms that the Lord typically delivers the king.

[20:6]  ³ tn Heb “his anointed one.” This title refers to the Davidic king. See Pss 2:2 and 18:50.

[20:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “he will answer him.”

[20:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “from his holy heavens.”

[20:6]  ⁶ tn Heb “with mighty acts of deliverance of his right hand.” The Lord’s “right hand” here symbolizes his power to protect and deliver (see Ps 17:7).

[98:1]  ⁷ sn Psalm 98. The psalmist summons the whole earth to praise God because he reveals his justice and delivers Israel.

[98:1]  ⁸ sn A new song is appropriate because the Lord is constantly intervening in the world as its just king. See Ps 96:1.

[98:1]  ⁹ tn The perfect verbal forms in vv. 1-3 are understood here as describing characteristic divine activities. Another option is to translate them as present perfects, “has performed…has accomplished deliverance, etc.” referring to completed actions that have continuing results.

[98:1]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “his right hand delivers for him and his holy arm.” The right hand and arm symbolize his power as a warrior-king (see Isa 52:10). His arm is “holy” in the sense that it is in a category of its own; God’s power is incomparable.