Let my tongue sing about Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness. Psalm 119:172 NASB Sing – Do you sing the psalms? It’s nice to think that this psalm is lyrical poetry designed to be sung. Many psalms are. But if we read only this English translation, we’d miss the wider implications of the use of…
This is my comfort in my misery, that Your word has [s]revived me. Psalm 119:50 NASB Comfort/misery – The NASB translation renders the Hebrew ʿŏnî as misery. This derivative comes from the root (ʿānâ) III, afflict, oppress, humble.[1] “The primary meaning of ʿānâ III is ‘to force,’ or ‘to try to force submission,’ and ‘to punish or…
I have told of my ways, and You have answered me; teach me Your statutes. Psalm 119:26 NASB My ways – God’s history isn’t the only history. You have one too. A personal, very private, history of your ways. All of them. Most of which you probably wouldn’t want to share in public. But that…
Attend to me, and listen to me; I was vexed in my pondering and was troubled by the noise of an enemy and by the affliction of a sinner . . . Psalm 54:3-4a LXX Listen – Compare this version in the LXX with the MT (translated, of course): Give Your attention to me and answer me;…
He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. I will satisfy him with a long life, and show him My salvation. Psalm 91:15-16 NASB Call upon – “Even personal prayers for our own needs are not necessarily selfish in nature. God feels the…
He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s slave woman, from where have you come, and where are you going?” And she said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” Genesis 16:8 NASB From the presence – How easy it is to forget that Hebrew is concrete! Removing the physical element by translating according to our social…
He has broken my strength in the way; He has shortened my days. Psalm 102:23 NASB Has broken – Read it again. What does the psalmist mean? Has God “broken” the poet? Has He shattered his strength? Has God ridden the wildness out of you? Did you buck and kick and finally submit? Is that what…
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Psalm 25:16 NASB Afflicted – Context, context, context. That’s the way you would determine the meaning of this Hebrew term, ʿānâ. It’s important because the consonants of this word are the same for two other meanings. These are designated ʿānâ I, II…
