Psalms 89:25

89:25 I will place his hand over the sea,

his right hand over the rivers. ¹ 

Psalms 106:26

106:26 So he made a solemn vow ² 

that he would make them die ³  in the desert,

Psalms 37:24

37:24 Even if ⁴  he trips, he will not fall headlong, ⁵ 

for the Lord holds ⁶  his hand.

Psalms 78:42

78:42 They did not remember what he had done, ⁷ 

how he delivered them from the enemy, ⁸ 

Psalms 95:7

95:7 For he is our God;

we are the people of his pasture,

the sheep he owns. ⁹ 

Today, if only you would obey him! ¹⁰ 

[89:25]  ¹ tn Some identify “the sea” as the Mediterranean and “the rivers” as the Euphrates and its tributaries. However, it is more likely that “the sea” and “the rivers” are symbols for hostile powers that oppose God and the king (see v. 9, as well as Ps 93:3-4).

[106:26]  ² tn Heb “and he lifted his hand to [or “concerning”] them.” The idiom “to lift a hand” here refers to swearing an oath. One would sometimes solemnly lift one’s hand when making such a vow (see Ezek 20:5-6, 15).

[106:26]  ³ tn Heb “to cause them to fall.”

[37:24]  ³ tn Other translation options for כִּי in this context are “when” (so NASB) or “though” (so NEB, NIV, NRSV).

[37:24]  ⁴ tn Heb “be hurled down.”

[37:24]  ⁵ tn The active participle indicates this is characteristically true. See v. 17.

[78:42]  ⁴ tn Heb “his hand,” symbolizing his saving activity and strength, as the next line makes clear.

[78:42]  ⁵ tn Heb “[the] day [in] which he ransomed them from [the] enemy.”

[95:7]  ⁵ tn Heb “of his hand.”

[95:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “if only you would listen to his voice.” The Hebrew particle אִם (’im, “if”) and following prefixed verbal form here express a wish (cf. Ps 81:8). Note that the apodosis (the “then” clause of the conditional sentence) is suppressed.