Psalms 21:1-7
1O Lord, the king rejoices in the strength you give; ▼▼ Heb “in your strength.” The translation interprets the pronominal suffix as subjective, rather than merely descriptive (or attributive).
he takes great delight in the deliverance you provide. ▼
▼ Heb “and in your deliverance, how greatly he rejoices.”
2 You grant ▼ him his heart’s desire;
you do not refuse his request. ▼
▼ Heb “and the request of his lips you do not refuse.”
(Selah) 3 For you bring him ▼
▼ Or “meet him [with].”
rich ▼▼ Heb “good.”
blessings; ▼ you place a golden crown on his head.
4 He asked you to sustain his life, ▼
and you have granted him long life and an enduring dynasty. ▼
▼ Heb “you have granted him length of days forever and ever.” The phrase “length of days,” when used of human beings, usually refers to a lengthy period of time (such as one’s lifetime). See, for example, Deut 30:20; Job 12:12; Ps 91:16; Prov 3:2, 16; Lam 5:20. The additional phrase “forever and ever” is hyperbolic. While it seems to attribute eternal life to the king (see Pss 61:6–7; 72:5 as well), the underlying reality is the king’s enduring dynasty. He will live on, as it were, through his descendants, who will continue to rule over his kingdom long after he has passed off the scene.
5 Your deliverance brings him great honor; ▼
▼ Or “great glory.”
you give him majestic splendor. ▼
6 For you grant him lasting blessings;
you give him great joy by allowing him into your presence. ▼
7 For the king trusts ▼
▼ The active participle draws attention to the ongoing nature of the action.
in the Lord, and because of the sovereign Lord’s ▼ faithfulness he is not upended. ▼
▼ Another option is to translate the imperfect verbal form as future, “he will not be upended” (cf. NRSV “he shall not be moved”). Even if one chooses this option, the future tense must be understood in a generalizing sense.
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