Psalms 33:20-21

33:20 We ¹  wait for the Lord;

he is our deliverer ²  and shield. ³ 

33:21 For our hearts rejoice in him,

for we trust in his holy name.

Psalms 84:11

84:11 For the Lord God is our sovereign protector. ⁴ 

The Lord bestows favor ⁵  and honor;

he withholds no good thing from those who have integrity. ⁶ 

Deuteronomy 33:29

33:29 You have joy, Israel! Who is like you?

You are a people delivered by the Lord,

your protective shield

and your exalted sword.

May your enemies cringe before you;

may you trample on their backs.

Proverbs 30:5

30:5 Every word of God is purified; ⁷ 

he is like ⁸  a shield for those who take refuge in him. ⁹ 

[33:20]  ¹ tn Or “our lives.” The suffixed form of נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “being, life”) is often equivalent to a pronoun in poetic texts.

[33:20]  ² tn Or “[source of] help.”

[33:20]  ³ tn Or “protector.”

[84:11]  ⁴ tn Heb “[is] a sun and a shield.” The epithet “sun,” though rarely used of Israel’s God in the OT, was a well-attested royal title in the ancient Near East. For several examples from Ugaritic texts, the Amarna letters, and Assyrian royal inscriptions, see R. B. Chisholm, “An Exegetical and Theological Study of Psalm 18/2 Samuel 22” (Th.D. diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 1983), 131, n. 2.

[84:11]  ⁵ tn Or “grace.”

[84:11]  ⁶ tn Heb “he does not withhold good to those walking in integrity.”

[30:5]  ⁷ sn The text here uses an implied comparison (a figure of speech known as hypocatastasis): It compares the perfection of every word from God with some precious metal that has been refined and purified (e.g., Ps 12:6). The point is that God’s word is trustworthy; it has no defects and flaws, nothing false or misleading. The second half of the verse explains the significance of this point – it is safe to trust the Lord.

[30:5]  ⁸ tn The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.

[30:5]  ⁹ sn The line uses two more figures of speech to declare that God can be trusted for security and salvation. “Shield” is a simple metaphor – God protects. “Take refuge” is another implied comparison (hypocatastasis) – God provides spiritual rest and security for those who put their trust in him.