Psalms 44:3

44:3 For they did not conquer ¹  the land by their swords,

and they did not prevail by their strength, ² 

but rather by your power, ³  strength ⁴  and good favor, ⁵ 

for you were partial to ⁶  them.

Psalms 44:6-7

44:6 For I do not trust in my bow,

and I do not prevail by my sword.

44:7 For you deliver ⁷  us from our enemies;

you humiliate ⁸  those who hate us.

[44:3]  ¹ tn Or “take possession of.”

[44:3]  ² tn Heb “and their arm did not save them.” The “arm” here symbolizes military strength.

[44:3]  ³ tn Heb “your right hand.” The Lord’s “right hand” here symbolizes his power to protect and deliver (see Pss 17:7; 20:6; 21:8).

[44:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “your arm.”

[44:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “light of your face.” The idiom “light of your face” probably refers to a smile (see Eccl 8:1), which in turn suggests favor and blessing (see Num 6:25; Pss 4:6; 31:16; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19; 89:15; Dan 9:17).

[44:3]  ⁶ tn Or “favorable toward.”

[44:7]  ⁷ tn Or “have delivered,” if past successes are in view. Another option is to take the perfect as rhetorical, emphasizing that victory is certain (note the use of the imperfect in vv. 5-6).

[44:7]  ⁸ tn Or “have humiliated,” if past successes are in view. Another option is to take the perfect as rhetorical, emphasizing that victory is certain (note the use of the imperfect in vv. 5-6).