Psalms 73:11

73:11 They say, “How does God know what we do?

Is the sovereign one aware of what goes on?” ¹ 

Psalms 7:3

7:3 O Lord my God, if I have done what they say, ² 

or am guilty of unjust actions, ³ 

Psalms 14:2

14:2 The Lord looks down from heaven ⁴  at the human race, ⁵ 

to see if there is anyone who is wise ⁶  and seeks God. ⁷ 

Psalms 58:11

58:11 Then ⁸  observers ⁹  will say,

“Yes indeed, the godly are rewarded! ¹⁰ 

Yes indeed, there is a God who judges ¹¹  in the earth!”

Psalms 135:17

135:17 and ears, but cannot hear.

Indeed, they cannot breathe. ¹² 

Psalms 53:2

53:2 God looks down from heaven ¹³  at the human race, ¹⁴ 

to see if there is anyone who is wise ¹⁵  and seeks God. ¹⁶ 

[73:11]  ¹ tn Heb “How does God know? Is there knowledge with the Most High?” They appear to be practical atheists, who acknowledge God’s existence and sovereignty in theory, but deny his involvement in the world (see Pss 10:4, 11; 14:1).

[7:3]  ² tn Heb “if I have done this.”

[7:3]  ³ tn Heb “if there is injustice in my hands.” The “hands” figuratively suggest deeds or actions.

[14:2]  ³ sn The picture of the Lord looking down from heaven draws attention to his sovereignty over the world.

[14:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “upon the sons of man.”

[14:2]  ⁵ tn Or “acts wisely.” The Hiphil is exhibitive.

[14:2]  ⁶ sn Anyone who is wise and seeks God refers to the person who seeks to have a relationship with God by obeying and worshiping him.

[58:11]  ⁴ tn Following the imperfects of v. 10, the prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive probably indicates a result or consequence of what precedes.

[58:11]  ⁵ tn Heb “man.” The singular is representative here.

[58:11]  ⁶ tn Heb “surely [there] is fruit for the godly.”

[58:11]  ⁷ tn The plural participle is unusual here if the preceding אֱלֹהִים (’elohim) is here a plural of majesty, referring to the one true God. Occasionally the plural of majesty does take a plural attributive (see GKC 428-29 §132.h). It is possible that the final mem (ם) on the participle is enclitic, and that it was later misunderstood as a plural ending. Another option is to translate, “Yes indeed, there are gods who judge in the earth.” In this case, the statement reflects the polytheistic mindset of pagan observers who, despite their theological ignorance, nevertheless recognize divine retribution when they see it.

[135:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “indeed, there is not breath in their mouth.” For the collocation אַף אֵין (’af ’en, “indeed, there is not”) see Isa 41:26. Another option is to take אַף as “nose” (see Ps 115:6), in which case one might translate, “a nose, [but] they have no breath in their mouths.”

[53:2]  ⁶ sn The picture of the Lord looking down from heaven draws attention to his sovereignty over the world.

[53:2]  ⁷ tn Heb “upon the sons of man.”

[53:2]  ⁸ tn Or “acts wisely.” The Hiphil is exhibitive.

[53:2]  ⁹ tn That is, who seeks to have a relationship with God by obeying and worshiping him.