He does not slander with his tongue, nor do evil to his neighbor, nor bring shame on his friend; Psalm 15:3 NASB Slander – The Hebrew word here is rāgal. Once you know that, you might be shocked at this translation. You see, only one time in twenty-four occurrences is it translated “slander.” In the other twenty-three instances…
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…
In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be ashamed; in Your righteousness deliver me. Psalm 31:1 NASB 1995 Never be ashamed – It’s been almost four years since I wrote this study of Psalm 31. We covered every verse in that month. Four years later I wonder if anything has really changed. Maybe…
Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 2 Corinthians 12:7-8 NASB…
for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher 2 Timothy 1:11 NASB 1995 Was appointed – According to one source,[1] Paul wrote about 28 percent of the “New Testament.” That source, however, included the letters to the Hebrews as Pauline which is most likely not the case. So, you might…
