Discovery BoxPsalms 37:30
Context37:30 The godly speak wise words
and promote justice. 1
Psalms 51:6
Context51:6 Look, 2 you desire 3 integrity in the inner man; 4
you want me to possess wisdom. 5
Psalms 90:12
Context90:12 So teach us to consider our mortality, 6
so that we might live wisely. 7
Psalms 111:10
Context111:10 To obey the Lord is the fundamental principle for wise living; 8
all who carry out his precepts acquire good moral insight. 9
He will receive praise forever. 10
[37:30] 1 tn Heb “The mouth of the godly [one] utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.” The singular form is used in a representative sense; the typical godly individual is in view. The imperfect verbal forms draw attention to the characteristic behavior of the godly.
[51:6] 2 sn The juxtaposition of two occurrences of “look” in vv. 5-6 draws attention to the sharp contrast between the sinful reality of the psalmist’s condition and the lofty ideal God has for him.
[51:6] 3 tn The perfect is used in a generalizing sense here.
[51:6] 4 tn Heb “in the covered [places],” i.e., in the inner man.
[51:6] 5 tn Heb “in the secret [place] wisdom you cause me to know.” The Hiphil verbal form is causative, while the imperfect is used in a modal sense to indicate God’s desire (note the parallel verb “desire”).
[90:12] 3 tn Heb “to number our days,” that is, to be aware of how few they really are.
[90:12] 4 tn Heb “and we will bring a heart of wisdom.” After the imperative of the preceding line, the prefixed verbal form with the conjunction indicates purpose/result. The Hebrew term “heart” here refers to the center of one’s thoughts, volition, and moral character.
[111:10] 4 tn Heb “the beginning of wisdom [is] the fear of the
[111:10] 5 tn Heb “good sense [is] to all who do them.” The third masculine plural pronominal suffix must refer back to the “precepts” mentioned in v. 7. In the translation the referent has been specified for clarity. The phrase שֵׂכֶל טוֹב (shekhel tov) also occurs in Prov 3:4; 13:15 and 2 Chr 30:22.
