Psalms 85:8

85:8 I will listen to what God the Lord says. ¹ 

For he will make ²  peace with his people, his faithful followers. ³ 

Yet they must not ⁴  return to their foolish ways.

Psalms 125:5

125:5 As for those who are bent on traveling a sinful path, ⁵ 

may the Lord remove them, ⁶  along with those who behave wickedly! ⁷ 

May Israel experience peace! ⁸ 

[85:8]  ¹ sn I will listen. Having asked for the Lord’s favor, the psalmist (who here represents the nation) anticipates a divine word of assurance.

[85:8]  ² tn Heb “speak.” The idiom “speak peace” refers to establishing or maintaining peaceful relations with someone (see Gen 37:4; Zech 9:10; cf. Ps 122:8).

[85:8]  ³ tn Heb “to his people and to his faithful followers.” The translation assumes that “his people” and “his faithful followers” are viewed as identical here.

[85:8]  ⁴ tn Or “yet let them not.” After the negative particle אֵל (’el), the prefixed verbal form is jussive, indicating the speaker’s desire or wish.

[125:5]  ⁵ tn Heb “and the ones making their paths twisted.” A sinful lifestyle is compared to a twisting, winding road.

[125:5]  ⁶ tn Heb “lead them away.” The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive of prayer here (note the prayers directly before and after this). Another option is to translate, “the Lord will remove them” (cf. NIV, NRSV).

[125:5]  ⁷ tn Heb “the workers of wickedness.”

[125:5]  ⁸ tn Heb “peace [be] upon Israel.” The statement is understood as a prayer (see Ps 122:8 for a similar prayer for peace).