Psalms 37:8

37:8 Do not be angry and frustrated! ¹ 

Do not fret! That only leads to trouble!

Psalms 48:11

48:11 Mount Zion rejoices;

the towns ²  of Judah are happy, ³ 

because of your acts of judgment. ⁴ 

Psalms 49:13

49:13 This is the destiny of fools, ⁵ 

and of those who approve of their philosophy. ⁶  (Selah)

Psalms 51:6

51:6 Look, ⁷  you desire ⁸  integrity in the inner man; ⁹ 

you want me to possess wisdom. ¹⁰ 

Psalms 90:12

90:12 So teach us to consider our mortality, ¹¹ 

so that we might live wisely. ¹² 

[37:8]  ¹ tn Heb “Refrain from anger! Abandon rage!”

[48:11]  ² tn Heb “daughters.” The reference is to the cities of Judah surrounding Zion (see Ps 97:8 and H. Haag, TDOT 2:336).

[48:11]  ³ tn The prefixed verbal forms are understood as generalizing imperfects. (For other examples of an imperfect followed by causal לְמַעַן [lÿma’an], see Ps 23:3; Isa 49:7; 55:5.) Another option is to interpret the forms as jussives, “Let Mount Zion rejoice! Let the towns of Judah be happy!” (cf. NASB, NRSV; note the imperatives in vv. 12-13.)

[48:11]  ⁴ sn These acts of judgment are described in vv. 4-7.

[49:13]  ³ tn Heb “this [is] their way, [there is] folly [belonging] to them.” The Hebrew term translated “this” could refer (1) back to the preceding verse[s] or (2) ahead to the subsequent statements. The translation assumes the latter, since v. 12 appears to be a refrain that concludes the psalm’s first major section and marks a structural boundary. (A similar refrain [see v. 20] concludes the second half of the psalm.) The noun דֶּרֶךְ (derekh, “way”) often refers to one’s lifestyle, but, if it relates to what follows, then here it likely refers metonymically to one’s destiny (the natural outcome of one’s lifestyle [cf. NEB, NIV, NRSV “fate”]). (See the discussion in K. Koch, TDOT 3:285.) If one prefers the more common nuance (“lifestyle”), then the term would look back to the self-confident attitude described in the earlier verses.

[49:13]  ⁴ tn Heb “and after them, in their mouth they take delight.” The meaning of the MT is not entirely clear. “After them” is understood here as substantival, “those who come after them” or “those who follow them.” “Their mouth” is taken as a metonymy for the arrogant attitude verbalized by the rich. In the expression “take delight in,” the preposition -ב (bet) introduces the object/cause of one’s delight (see Pss 147:10; 149:4). So the idea here is that those who come after/follow the rich find the philosophy of life they verbalize and promote to be attractive and desirable.

[51:6]  ⁴ 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]  ⁵ tn The perfect is used in a generalizing sense here.

[51:6]  ⁶ tn Heb “in the covered [places],” i.e., in the inner man.

[51:6]  ⁷ 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]  ⁵ tn Heb “to number our days,” that is, to be aware of how few they really are.

[90:12]  ⁶ 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.