Psalms 34:2

34:2 I will boast ¹  in the Lord;

let the oppressed hear and rejoice! ² 

Psalms 115:6

115:6 ears, but cannot hear,

noses, but cannot smell,

Psalms 18:44

18:44 When they hear of my exploits, they submit to me. ³ 

Foreigners are powerless ⁴  before me;

[34:2]  ¹ tn Heb “my soul will boast”; or better, “let my soul boast.” Following the cohortative form in v. 1, it is likely that the prefixed verbal form here is jussive.

[34:2]  ² tn The two prefixed verbal forms in this verse are best taken as jussives, for the psalmist is calling his audience to worship (see v. 3).

[18:44]  ³ tn Heb “at a report of an ear they submit to me.” The report of the psalmist’s exploits is so impressive that those who hear it submit to his rulership without putting up a fight.

[18:44]  ⁴ tn For the meaning “be weak, powerless” for כָּחַשׁ (kakhash), see Ps 109:24. The next line (see v. 45a), in which “foreigners” are also mentioned, favors this interpretation. Another option is to translate “cower in fear” (see Deut 33:29; Pss 66:3; 81:15; cf. NIV “cringe”; NRSV “came cringing”).