Psalms 97:11

97:11 The godly bask in the light;

the morally upright experience joy. ¹ 

Psalms 104:2

104:2 He covers himself with light as if it were a garment.

He stretches out the skies like a tent curtain,

Psalms 36:9

36:9 For you are the one who gives

and sustains life. ² 

Psalms 112:4

112:4 In the darkness a light ³  shines for the godly,

for each one who is merciful, compassionate, and just. ⁴ 

Psalms 139:11

139:11 If I were to say, “Certainly the darkness will cover me, ⁵ 

and the light will turn to night all around me,” ⁶ 

Psalms 148:3

148:3 Praise him, O sun and moon!

Praise him, all you shiny stars! ⁷ 

Psalms 4:6

4:6 Many say, “Who can show us anything good?”

Smile upon us, Lord! ⁸ 

Psalms 49:19

49:19 But he will join his ancestors; ⁹ 

they will never again see the light of day. ¹⁰ 

[97:11]  ¹ tn Heb “Light is planted for the godly, and for the upright of heart joy.” The translation assumes an emendation of זָרַע (zara’, “planted”) to זָרַח (zara’, “shines”) which collocates more naturally with “light.” “Light” here symbolizes the joy (note the following line) that accompanies deliverance and the outpouring of divine favor.

[36:9]  ² tn Heb “for with you is the fountain of life, in your light we see light.” Water (note “fountain”) and light are here metaphors for life.

[112:4]  ³ tn In this context “light” symbolizes divine blessing in its various forms (see v. 2), including material prosperity and stability.

[112:4]  ⁴ tn Heb “merciful and compassionate and just.” The Hebrew text has three singular adjectives, which are probably substantival and in apposition to the “godly” (which is plural, however). By switching to the singular, the psalmist focuses on each individual member of the group known as the “godly.” Note how vv. 5-9, like vv. 1-2a, use the singular to describe the representative godly individual who typifies the whole group.

[139:11]  ⁴ tn The Hebrew verb שׁוּף (shuf), which means “to crush; to wound,” in Gen 3:15 and Job 9:17, is problematic here. For a discussion of attempts to relate the verb to Arabic roots, see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 251. Many emend the form to יְשׂוּכֵּנִי (yesukkeniy), from the root שׂכך (“to cover,” an alternate form of סכך), a reading assumed in the present translation.

[139:11]  ⁵ tn Heb “and night, light, around me.”

[148:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “stars of light.”

[4:6]  ⁶ tn Heb “lift up upon us the light of your face, Lord.” The verb נסה is apparently an alternate form of נשׂא, “lift up.” See GKC 217 §76.b. The idiom “light of your face” probably refers to a smile (see Eccl 8:1), which in turn suggests favor and blessing (see Num 6:25; Pss 31:16; 44:3; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19; 89:15; Dan 9:17).

[49:19]  ⁷ tn Verses 18-19a are one long sentence in the Hebrew text, which reads: “Though he blesses his soul in his life, [saying], ‘And let them praise you, for you do well for yourself,’ it [that is, his soul] will go to the generation of his fathers.” This has been divided into two sentences in the translation for clarity, in keeping with the tendency of contemporary English to use shorter sentences.

[49:19]  ⁸ tn Heb “light.” The words “of day” are supplied in the translation for clarification.