Far be it from You to do such a thing, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” Genesis 18:25 NASB Justly – Rabbi Sacks recognized just how crucial Abraham’s question was—and is. “‘Shall the judge of…
This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place. Jeremiah 22:3 NIV Just and right – mišpāṭ and ṣĕdāqâ. We know both these concepts. The first, mišpāṭ, isn’t just about…
Seven times a day I praise You because of Your righteous judgments. Psalm 119:164 NASB Seven times a day – Travel nearly anywhere in the region once the home of the psalmist and you will hear the call of the minaret. Five times a day the wailing of the muezzin emanates from those tall towers dotting…
Hearken to my voice according to Your kindness; O Lord, according to Your custom sustain me. Psalm 119:149 Chabad Custom – This translation might lead us to believe that the psalmist anticipates a typical response from God. He enlists the protocol of ḥesed, establishing the required connection. He asks God to listen, using a verb…
Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is right for those who love Your name. Psalm 119:132 NASB As is right for – Now we discover just how broad Hebrew words can be. The phrase “as is right for,” in the the Chabad translation (“Turn to me and favor me as is Your…
I have done justice and righteousness; do not leave me to my oppressors. Psalm 119:121 NASB Ayin 121 I have done justice and righteousness; Do not leave me to my oppressors. עָשִׂיתִי מִשְׁפָּ֣ט וָצֶ֑דֶק בַּל־תַּ֜נִּיחֵ֗נִי לְעֹֽשְׁקָֽי 122 Be a guarantor for Your servant for good; Do not let the arrogant oppress me. עֲרֹ֣ב עַבְדְּךָ֣ לְט֑וֹב אַל־יַֽעַשְׁקֻ֥נִי זֵדִֽים 123 My eyes…
I have not turned aside from Your judgments, for You Yourself have taught me. Psalm 119:102 NASB You Yourself – Emphasis added. The actual Hebrew text just uses ʾattâ, the second person singular pronoun, “you.” “It is appended to verbs for emphasis. Its use in oblique cases (genitive and accusative) is to afford stress to a…
They stand this day by Your ordinances, for all things are Your servants. Psalm 119:91 NASB They – The odd thing about pronouns is that without a reference point we have little idea what they actually mean. If I were to write, “He said something critically important,” but I didn’t tell you who “he” is, how could…
At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You because of Your righteous judgments. Psalm 119:62 NASB Midnight – Maybe we should start this one with a little Eric C. CLICK HERE Does that put you in the mood? Despite this great tune, the psalmist has another midnight in mind. The Hebrew ḥēṣôt layĕlâ needs some…
I have remembered Your judgments from [t]of old, Lord, and comfort myself. Psalm 119:52 NASB Comfort myself – Wait a minute! Didn’t we just look at this idea (v. 50)? Remember the discussion about “comfort” versus “consolation”? And what is “consolation” in these situations? The poet chooses the term, neḥāmâ, found in this form only once more in…
