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 55:19

55:19 God, the one who has reigned as king from long ago,

will hear and humiliate them. ⁷  (Selah)

They refuse to change,

and do not fear God. ⁸ 

[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.”

[55:19]  ⁷ tc Heb “God will hear and answer them, even [the] one who sits [from] ancient times.” The prefixed verbal from with vav (ו) consecutive carries on the anticipatory force of the preceding imperfect. The verb appears to be a Qal form from עָנָה (’anah, “to answer”). If this reading is retained, the point would be that God “answered” them in judgment. The translation assumes an emendation to the Piel וַיְעַנֵּם (vay’annem; see 2 Kgs 17:20) and understands the root as עָנָה (’anah, “to afflict”; see also 1 Kgs 8:35).

[55:19]  ⁸ tn Heb “[the ones] for whom there are no changes, and they do not fear God.”