Psalms 91:14

91:14 The Lord says, ¹ 

“Because he is devoted to me, I will deliver him;

I will protect him ²  because he is loyal to me. ³ 

Proverbs 23:5

23:5 When you gaze upon riches, ⁴  they are gone,

for they surely make wings for themselves,

and fly off into the sky like an eagle! ⁵ 

[91:14]  ¹ tn The words “the Lord says” are supplied in the translation to clarify that the words which follow are the Lord’s oracle of assurance.

[91:14]  ² tn Or “make him secure” (Heb “set him on high”).

[91:14]  ³ tn Heb “because he knows my name” (see Ps 9:10).

[23:5]  ⁴ tc The Kethib is הֲתָעוּף (hata’uf), “do your eyes fly [light] on it?” The Qere is the Hiphil, הֲתָעִיף (hata’if) “do you cause your eyes to fly on it?” But the line is difficult. The question may be indirect: If you cast your eyes on it, it is gone – when you think you are close, it slips away.

[23:5]  ⁵ sn This seventh saying warns people not to expend all their energy trying to get rich because riches are fleeting (cf. Instruction of Amememope, chap. 7, 9:10-11 which says, “they have made themselves wings like geese and have flown away to heaven”). In the ancient world the symbol of birds flying away signified fleeting wealth.