Psalms 80:5

80:5 You have given them tears as food; ¹ 

you have made them drink tears by the measure. ² 

Psalms 112:9

112:9 He generously gives ³  to the needy;

his integrity endures. ⁴ 

He will be vindicated and honored. ⁵ 

Psalms 120:3

120:3 How will he severely punish you,

you deceptive talker? ⁶ 

[80:5]  ¹ tn Heb “you have fed them the food of tears.”

[80:5]  ² tn Heb “[by] the third part [of a measure].” The Hebrew term שָׁלִישׁ (shalish, “third part [of a measure]”) occurs only here and in Isa 40:12.

[112:9]  ³ tn Heb “he scatters, he gives.”

[112:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “stands forever.”

[112:9]  ⁵ tn Heb “his horn will be lifted up in honor.” The horn of an ox underlies the metaphor (see Deut 33:17; 1 Kgs 22:11; Ps 92:10). The horn of the wild ox is frequently a metaphor for military strength; the idiom “exalt/lift up the horn” signifies military victory (see 1 Sam 2:10; Pss 89:17, 24; 92:10; Lam 2:17).

[120:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “What will he give to you, and what will he add to you, O tongue of deception?” The psalmist addresses his deceptive enemies. The Lord is the understood subject of the verbs “give” and “add.” The second part of the question echoes a standard curse formula, “thus the Lord/God will do … and thus he will add” (see Ruth 1:17; 1 Sam 3:17; 14:44; 20:13; 25:22; 2 Sam 3:9, 35; 19:13; 1 Kgs 2:23; 2 Kgs 6:31).