One who walks with integrity, practices righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. Psalm 15:2 NASB In his heart – “Speaks truth in his heart.” What is that? Unvoiced agreement? Inner affirmation? What good is it in the public arena to speak the truth in the heart? If you don’t say a word, who would know? What…
One who walks with integrity, practices righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. Psalm 15:2 NASB Practices righteousness – What does the poet mean by the phrase “practices righteousness”? If we think in modern terms, we might conclude that this expression describes someone who does what is right, whose cause is ethical and justified, like, for example,…
One who walks with integrity, practices righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. Psalm 15:2 NASB Integrity – Robert Alter’s translation uses English expressions that are a bit closer to the Hebrew originals. In this NASB translation, “integrity” is the Hebrew word tāmîm, derived from the root tāmam. It actually means “complete.” Payne notes, “the verb’s fundamental…
Lord, who will sojourn in Your tent, who will dwell on Your holy mountain? Psalm 15:1 Robert Alter Sojourn/ dwell – Who do you suppose the psalmist has in mind? You have all the clues you need: a tent, a mountain, a temporary encampment, a permanent residence. Who else could it be but Moses? The…
For my life is exhausted in sorrow and my years in sighing. Through my crime my strength stumbles and my limbs are worn out. Psalm 31:11 (Hebrew Bible) Robert Alter Crime – Note Robert Alter’s remark: “The translation follows the Masoretic Text, which has ba’awoni here. But the Septuagint and the Peshitta read be’onyi, ‘in…
For my life is exhausted in sorrow and my years in sighing. Through my crime my strength stumbles and my limbs are worn out. Psalm 31:11 (Hebrew Bible) Robert Alter Exhausted in sorrow – an excerpt. When he looked up, Nathan was gone. “Call him back. Call him back.” He almost shouted, but in the…
