Psalms 69:34-36

69:34 Let the heavens and the earth praise him,

along with the seas and everything that swims in them!

69:35 For God will deliver Zion

and rebuild the cities of Judah,

and his people ¹  will again live in them and possess Zion. ² 

69:36 The descendants of his servants will inherit it,

and those who are loyal to him ³  will live in it. ⁴ 

[69:35]  ¹ tn Heb “they”; the referent (God’s people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[69:35]  ² tn Heb “it.” The third feminine singular pronominal suffix probably refers to “Zion” (see Pss 48:12; 102:14); thus the referent has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[69:36]  ³ tn Heb “the lovers of his name.” The phrase refers to those who are loyal to God (cf. v. 35). See Pss 5:11; 119:132; Isa 56:6.

[69:36]  ⁴ sn Verses 35-36 appear to be an addition to the psalm from the time of the exile. The earlier lament reflects an individual’s situation, while these verses seem to reflect a communal application of it.