Psalms 66:7

66:7 He rules ¹  by his power forever;

he watches ²  the nations.

Stubborn rebels should not exalt ³  themselves. (Selah)

Psalms 78:42

78:42 They did not remember what he had done, ⁴ 

how he delivered them from the enemy, ⁵ 

[66:7]  ¹ tn Heb “[the] one who rules.”

[66:7]  ² tn Heb “his eyes watch.” “Eyes” are an anthropomorphism, attributed to God here to emphasize his awareness of all that happens on earth.

[66:7]  ³ tn The verb form is jussive (note the negative particle אַל, ’al). The Kethib (consonantal text) has a Hiphil form of the verb, apparently to be understood in an exhibitive sense (“demonstrate stubborn rebellion”; see BDB 927 s.v. רוּם Hiph), while the Qere (marginal reading) has a Qal form, to be understood in an intransitive sense. The preposition -לְ (lamed) with pronominal suffix should be understood in a reflexive sense (“for themselves”) and indicates that the action is performed with the interest of the subject in mind.

[78:42]  ⁴ tn Heb “his hand,” symbolizing his saving activity and strength, as the next line makes clear.

[78:42]  ⁵ tn Heb “[the] day [in] which he ransomed them from [the] enemy.”