Psalms 78:8

78:8 Then they will not be like their ancestors,

who were a stubborn and rebellious generation,

a generation that was not committed

and faithful to God. ¹ 

Psalms 127:5

127:5 How blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!

They will not be put to shame ²  when they confront ³  enemies at the city gate.

Psalms 141:4

141:4 Do not let me have evil desires, ⁴ 

or participate in sinful activities

with men who behave wickedly. ⁵ 

I will not eat their delicacies. ⁶ 

[78:8]  ¹ tn Heb “a generation that did not make firm its heart and whose spirit was not faithful with God.” The expression “make firm the heart” means “to be committed, devoted” (see 1 Sam 7:3).

[127:5]  ² tn Being “put to shame” is here metonymic for being defeated, probably in a legal context, as the reference to the city gate suggests. One could be humiliated (Ps 69:12) or deprived of justice (Amos 5:12) at the gate, but with strong sons to defend the family interests this was less likely to happen.

[127:5]  ³ tn Heb “speak with.”

[141:4]  ³ tn Heb “do not turn my heart toward an evil thing.”

[141:4]  ⁴ tn Heb “to act sinfully in practices in wickedness with men, doers of evil.”

[141:4]  ⁵ sn Their delicacies. This probably refers to the enjoyment that a sinful lifestyle appears to offer.