Psalms 89:19-22

89:19 Then you ¹  spoke through a vision to your faithful followers ²  and said:

“I have energized a warrior; ³ 

I have raised up a young man ⁴  from the people.

89:20 I have discovered David, my servant.

With my holy oil I have anointed him as king. ⁵ 

89:21 My hand will support him, ⁶ 

and my arm will strengthen him.

89:22 No enemy will be able to exact tribute ⁷  from him; ⁸ 

a violent oppressor will not be able to humiliate him. ⁹ 

[89:19]  ¹ tn The pronoun “you” refers to the Lord, who is addressed here. The quotation that follows further develops the announcement of vv. 3-4.

[89:19]  ² tc Many medieval mss read the singular here, “your faithful follower.” In this case the statement refers directly to Nathan’s oracle to David (see 2 Sam 7:17).

[89:19]  ³ tn Heb “I have placed help upon a warrior.”

[89:19]  ⁴ tn Or perhaps “a chosen one.”

[89:20]  ⁵ tn The words “as king” are supplied in the translation for clarification, indicating that a royal anointing is in view.

[89:21]  ⁹ tn Heb “with whom my hand will be firm.”

[89:22]  ¹³ tn Heb “an enemy will not exact tribute.” The imperfect is understood in a modal sense, indicating capability or potential.

[89:22]  ¹⁴ tn The translation understands the Hiphil of נָשַׁא (nasha’) in the sense of “act as a creditor.” This may allude to the practice of a conqueror forcing his subjects to pay tribute in exchange for “protection.” Another option is to take the verb from a homonymic verbal root meaning “to deceive,” “to trick.” Still another option is to emend the form to יִשָּׂא (yisa’), a Qal imperfect from נָאַשׂ (na’as, “rise up”) and to translate “an enemy will not rise up against him” (see M. Dahood, Psalms [AB], 2:317).

[89:22]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “and a son of violence will not oppress him.” The imperfect is understood in a modal sense, indicating capability or potential. The reference to a “son of violence” echoes the language of God’s promise to David in 2 Sam 7:10 (see also 1 Chr 17:9).