Psa 5:12 | NETfull | STEP | Certainly you reward the godly, Lord . Like a shield you protect them in your good favor. For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments, according to the sheminith style; a psalm of David.

Psalms 5:12

Certainly ^{▼▼ Or “For.”} you reward ^{▼▼ Or “bless.” The imperfect verbal forms here and in the next line highlight how God characteristically rewards and protects the godly.} the godly, ^{▼▼ Or “innocent.” The singular form is used here in a collective or representative sense.} Lord.
Like a shield you protect ^{▼▼ Heb “surround.” In 1 Sam 23:26 the verb describes how Saul and his men hemmed David in as they chased him.} them ^{▼▼ Heb “him.” The singular form is used here in a collective or representative sense and is thus translated “them.”} in your good favor. ^{▼▼ Or “with favor” (cf. NRSV). There is no preposition before the noun in the Hebrew text, nor is there a pronoun attached. “Favor” here stands by metonymy for God’s defensive actions on behalf of the one whom he finds acceptable.}

Psalm 6

^{▼▼ Psalm 6. The psalmist begs the Lord to withdraw his anger and spare his life. Having received a positive response to his prayer, the psalmist then confronts his enemies and describes how they retreat.}

For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments, according to the sheminith style; a psalm of David.

12 ^{▼▼ The meaning of the Hebrew term שְׁמִינִית (sh^eminit, “sheminith”) is uncertain; perhaps it refers to a particular style of music. See 1 Chr 15:21.}