His life will repose in bounty, and his seed will inherit the earth. Psalm 25:13 Robert Alter translation Will inherit – When the ESV, NIV, NLT and NASB choose to translate ‘erets as “land,” we miss the vital connection between David’s poetry and Yeshua’s beatitude. Translators may sometimes be justified in choosing “land” rather than…
Recently I have received several requests from readers to add them back to the Today’s Word email list after they suddenly stopped getting the daily email. Upon investigation, I discovered that they had “unsubscribed.” But they really didn’t! What happened is that they forwarded the email to someone else and that person didn’t like it…
Whosoever the man who fears the LORD, He will guide him in the way he should choose. Psalm 25:12 Robert Alter translation Guide – “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will…
For the sake of Your name, O LORD, may You forgive my crime, which is great. Psalm 25:11 Robert Alter translation For the sake of – Why does God forgive? What benefit accrues to Him for this act? He has nothing to gain by forgiving those who despise and resist Him. There is no guarantee…
All the LORD’s paths are kindness and truth for the keepers of His pact and His precepts. Psalm 25:10 Robert Alter translation All – Do you really believe that all of YHWH’s ways are kindness and truth? Are you just as likely to proclaim this with David when the plane crashes and everyone is killed,…
All the LORD’s paths are kindness and truth for the keepers of His pact and His precepts. Psalm 25:10 Robert Alter translation Keepers – Think of the covenant like a trust fund with conditions. All of God’s kindness and truth is available as a result of the trust He established. But the benefits aren’t for…
He leads the lowly in justice and teaches the lowly His way. Psalm 25:9 Robert Alter translation Lowly – “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.” So reads the usual translation of Yeshua’s third Beatitude. A direct quote from Psalm 37:11, the key word is ‘anawim (the meek, the humble, the lowly)…
Good and upright is the LORD. Therefore He guides offenders on the way. Psalm 25:8 Robert Alter translation Therefore – When you think of God as good, what comes to mind? Do you think of His moral character—blameless, holy, perfect? Do you think of His blessings—prosperity, happiness, health? How is God’s goodness connected to the…
My youth’s offenses and my crimes recall not. In your kindness, recall me—You; for the sake of Your goodness, O LORD. Psalm 25:7 Robert Alter translation Recall me—You – Offenses of our younger days. Crimes we committed but did not get caught. At the heart of every man is the ability to become a despot,…
