The lowly have seen and rejoiced, those who seek God, let their hearts be strong. Psalm 69:33 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Let – There are at least two ways to read this verse. It depends on which meaning you attach to the wide umbrella Hebrew word ḥāyâ. Here are some choices: “live, have life, remain…
Let me praise God’s name in song, and let me extol Him in thanksgiving. And let it be better to the LORD than oxen, than a horned bull with it hooves. Psalm 69:31-32 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Than oxen – There’s no problem with the translation here, or in most English Bibles. The Hebrew is…
But I am lowly and hurting. Your rescue, O LORD, will protect me. Psalm 69:30 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Rescue – By far the most common English rendition of this word is “salvation.” Virtually all the popular English Bible use “May Your salvation” or something similar. Given that the Hebrew is yĕšûʿât, it’s easy to…
Let them be wiped out from the book of life, and among the righteous let them not be written. Psalm 69:29 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Be wiped out – First, let’s be clear about the technique. “. . . erasures in ancient leather scrolls were made by washing or sponging off the ink rather than…
Add guilt upon their guilt, and let them have no part in Your bounty. Psalm 69:28 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Guilt – In order to understand the ramifications of this Hebrew word—ʿāwōn—we need to read the explanation provided by Schultz: We note in the first place that the noun is a collective. Thus God says…
For You—whom You struck they pursued, and they recounted the pain of Your victims. Psalm 69:27 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Recounted – Think about the implications here. First, the “victims” are God’s victims. God is the One who caused the initial pain. And God is the One with whom you must deal. The enemies are…
For You—whom You struck they pursued, and they recounted the pain of Your victims. Psalm 69:27 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Whom You struck – When did God strike you? The verb is nākâ, used some 500 times in the Tanakh, often for physical injury or even death. But that’s not the way it’s used here. …
May their encampment be laid waste, and in their tents may no one dwell. Psalm 69:26 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter No one dwell – Enough already! David’s already cursed them. He’s already wished them trapped, blind, and feeble. He’s elicited the storm God to scorch them with hot lava. Why keep the curses going? Ah,…
May their table before them become a trap, and their allies a snare. May their eyes grow too dark to see, make their loins perpetually shake. Pour out upon them Your wrath, and Your blazing fury overtake them. Psalm 69:23-25 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Wrath – Here are your choices: wrath, fury, indignation, anger, judgment,…
They gave for my nourishment wormwood, and for my thirst they made me drink vinegar. Psalm 69:22 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Wormwood – I’m guessing that you have no idea what “wormwood” is. And I’ll bet you’re no better informed about “gall,” the other English translation. But I’m pretty sure you’ve heard the verse before…
