Psalms 89:16-17

89:16 They rejoice in your name all day long,

and are vindicated ¹  by your justice.

89:17 For you give them splendor and strength. ² 

By your favor we are victorious. ³ 

[89:16]  ¹ tn Heb “are lifted up.”

[89:17]  ² tn Heb “for the splendor of their strength [is] you.”

[89:17]  ³ tn Heb “you lift up our horn,” or if one follows the marginal reading (Qere), “our horn is lifted up.” 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 75:10; 89:24; 92:10; Lam 2:17).