Psalms 89:16

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

and are vindicated ¹  by your justice.

Psalms 66:7

66:7 He rules ²  by his power forever;

he watches ³  the nations.

Stubborn rebels should not exalt ⁴  themselves. (Selah)

Psalms 140:8

140:8 O Lord, do not let the wicked have their way! ⁵ 

Do not allow their ⁶  plan to succeed when they attack! ⁷  (Selah)

[89:16]  ¹ tn Heb “are lifted up.”

[66:7]  ² tn Heb “[the] one who rules.”

[66:7]  ³ tn Heb “his eyes watch.” “Eyes” are an anthropomorphism, attributed to God here to emphasize his awareness of all that happens on earth.

[66:7]  ⁴ tn The verb form is jussive (note the negative particle אַל, ’al). The Kethib (consonantal text) has a Hiphil form of the verb, apparently to be understood in an exhibitive sense (“demonstrate stubborn rebellion”; see BDB 927 s.v. רוּם Hiph), while the Qere (marginal reading) has a Qal form, to be understood in an intransitive sense. The preposition -לְ (lamed) with pronominal suffix should be understood in a reflexive sense (“for themselves”) and indicates that the action is performed with the interest of the subject in mind.

[140:8]  ³ tn Heb “do not grant the desires of the wicked.”

[140:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “his.” The singular is used in a representative sense (see v. 1).

[140:8]  ⁵ tn Heb “his plot do not promote, they rise up.” The translation understands the final verb as being an unmarked temporal clause. Another option is to revocalize the verb as a Hiphil and take the verb with the next verse, “those who surround me lift up [their] head,” which could refer to their proud attitude as they anticipate victory (see Ps 27:6).