Psalms 71:18

71:18 Even when I am old and gray, ¹ 

O God, do not abandon me,

until I tell the next generation about your strength,

and those coming after me about your power. ² 

Psalms 98:1

Psalm 98 ³ 

A psalm.

98:1 Sing to the Lord a new song, ⁴ 

for he performs ⁵  amazing deeds!

His right hand and his mighty arm

accomplish deliverance. ⁶ 

[71:18]  ¹ tn Heb “and even unto old age and gray hair.”

[71:18]  ² tn Heb “until I declare your arm to a generation, to everyone who comes your power.” God’s “arm” here is an anthropomorphism that symbolizes his great strength.

[98:1]  ³ sn Psalm 98. The psalmist summons the whole earth to praise God because he reveals his justice and delivers Israel.

[98:1]  ⁴ sn A new song is appropriate because the Lord is constantly intervening in the world as its just king. See Ps 96:1.

[98:1]  ⁵ tn The perfect verbal forms in vv. 1-3 are understood here as describing characteristic divine activities. Another option is to translate them as present perfects, “has performed…has accomplished deliverance, etc.” referring to completed actions that have continuing results.

[98:1]  ⁶ tn Heb “his right hand delivers for him and his holy arm.” The right hand and arm symbolize his power as a warrior-king (see Isa 52:10). His arm is “holy” in the sense that it is in a category of its own; God’s power is incomparable.