Property: Discussion
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
P
This psalm is loaded with picturesque speech: (enemies) “rising up against me” (2b), “shield” (4a), “my glory” (4b), “lift up my head” (4b), “holy hill” (5b), “lie down—sleep—wake up” (6a), (enemies) “set all around against me” (7b), and the concluding graphically hyperbolic, symbolic language: “strike the jaw—and break the teeth” of the wicked (8b). +
Through the powerful prayer of the prophet-priest king, Yahweh's blessing [[#Figures of Speech|dawns]] on those who repent and trust in him.
Therefore, '''Trust in Yahweh!''' (v.6b). This is the [[#Large-scale structures|center]] of the psalm and perhaps the primary thought an audience should take away from it. It is Yahweh – not any other god – who rains blessing on his people (see [[#Historical background|historical background]]), and he does so through the mediation of his priest-king. +
Total: 106
Middle: אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה אֶל +
Total: 21 (7x3). See [[#Line divisions|Line divisions]].</br> Middle line: יָגַ֤עְתִּי ׀ בְּֽאַנְחָתִ֗י (seven syllables).
The middle line (v.7a) is the shortest line in the psalm (7 syllables, 2 words, 2 stress-units). In Psalms 3, 4, and 5, the middle line is the longest line in the psalm. +
Total: 69</br> Middle: יֽוֹדֶה־לָּֽךְ׃ (v.6b) +
Total: 78</br> Middle: לָךְ (v.6b); יָגַעְתִּי (v.7a)</br>
The number of independent lexemes is distributed equally across the two halves of the poem (39 words, 39 words) and symmetrically across the poem's four sections (A: 24 words; B: 15 words; C: 15 words; D: 24 words). The middle words thus coincide with the middle division of the psalm's sections. See [[#Alternative prosody and syllable counts|Alternative prosody and syllable counts]] and [[#Large-scale structures|Large-scale structures]]. +
Total: 94
Middle: אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה אֶל־הֵֽיכַל־קָ֜דְשְׁךָ֗ +
Two primary motives emerge, each of which is lexically supported and conceptually integrated throughout the text: human/divine SPEECH rejects // promotes KINGSHIP.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000010-QINU`"'.
Yahweh’s heavenly kingship (section 2) is realized on earth in the reign of his king (sections 2–3) to the exclusion of all other earthly kingdoms (sections 1 and 4). +
Use of the unique מוֹ- suffix (vv.3-5; see above on Sound Combinations) might be explained on phonological/poetic grounds. The noun מוֹסְרוֹת, which begins with מוֹ, might have led the poet to use the מוֹ suffix on this word and on subsequent words for the purpose of rhyme. +
Verb stem types are more varied in Psalm 5 than in any previous psalm. There are numerous ''Hiphil'' (7) and ''Piel'' (6 or 7) verbs as well as ''Hithpael'' (2), ''Hishtaphel'' (1), and ''Qal'' Passive (1). In fact, according to the MT, there are as many ''Qal'' forms (17) as non-''Qal'' forms (17).
See below on [[#Variants|variants]] for a discussion of the stem of תעטרנו in v.13b.
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Verb Morphology'''
|-
! Verse !! Verb !! Stem !! Conjugation !! Person !! Gender !! Number !! Paragogic Suffix !! Pronominal Suffix !! Root
|-
| 2a || הַאֲזִ֥ינָה || <span style="color:#0000FF"> H </span> || <big>'''impv'''</big> || 2 || m || s || ה || || אזן
|-
| 2b || בִּ֣ינָה || <span style="color:#008000"> Q </span> || <big>'''impv'''</big> || 2 || m || s || ה || || בין
|-
| 3a || הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה || <span style="color:#0000FF"> H </span> || <big>'''impv'''</big> || 2 || m || s || ה || || קשׁב
|-
| || שַׁוְעִ֗י || <span style="color:#FF0000"> D </span> || inf cstr || || || || || 1cs || שׁוע
|-
| 3b || אֶתְפַּלָּֽל || <span style="color:#FFA500"> HtD </span> || yiqtol || 1 || c || s || || || פלל
|-
| 4a || תִּשְׁמַ֣ע || <span style="color:#008000"> Q </span> || yiqtol || 2 || m || s || || || שׁמע
|-
| 4b || אֶֽעֱרָךְ || <span style="color:#008000"> Q </span> || yiqtol || 1 || c || s || || || ערך
|-
| || וַאֲצַפֶּֽה || <span style="color:#FF0000"> D </span> || weyiqtol || 1 || c || s || || || צפה
|-
| 5b || יְגֻרְךָ֣ || <span style="color:#008000"> Q </span> || yiqtol || 3 || m || s || || 2ms || גור
|-
| 6a || יִתְיַצְּב֣וּ || <span style="color:#FFA500"> HtD </span> || yiqtol || 3 || m || p || || || יצב
|-
| || הֽ֭וֹלְלִים || <span style="color:#008000"> Q </span> || ptc || || m || p || || || הלל
|-
| 6b || שָׂ֜נֵ֗אתָ || <span style="color:#008000"> Q </span> || qatal || 2 || m || s || || || שׂנא
|-
| || פֹּ֥עֲלֵי || <span style="color:#008000"> Q </span> || ptc || || m || p || || || פעל
|-
| 7a || תְּאַבֵּד֘ || <span style="color:#FF0000"> D </span> || yiqtol || 2 || m || s || || || אבד
|-
| || דֹּבְרֵ֪י || <span style="color:#008000"> Q </span> || ptc || || m || p || || || דבר
|-
| 7b || יְתָ֨עֵ֥ב || <span style="color:#FF0000"> D </span> || yiqtol || 3 || m || s || || || תעב
|-
| 8a || אָב֣וֹא || <span style="color:#008000"> Q </span> || yiqtol || 1 || c || s || || || בוא
|-
| 8b || אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה || <span style="color:#4169E1"> Hsht </span> || yiqtol || 1 || c || s || || || חוה
|-
| 9a || נְחֵ֬נִי || <span style="color:#008000"> Q </span> || <big>'''impv'''</big> || 2 || m || s || || 1cs || נחה
|-
| 9b || הַושַׁ֖ר || <span style="color:#0000FF"> H </span> || <big>'''impv'''</big> || 2 || m || s || || || ישׁר
|-
| 10c || פָּת֥וּחַ || <span style="color:#808000"> Qp </span> || ptc || || m || s || || || פתח
|-
| 10d || יַחֲלִֽיקוּן || <span style="color:#0000FF"> H </span> || yiqtol || 3 || m || p || ן || || חלק
|-
| 11a || ַֽהַֽאֲשִׁימֵ֙ם || <span style="color:#0000FF"> H </span> || <big>'''impv'''</big> || 2 || m || s || || 3mp || אשׁם
|-
| 11b || יִפְּלוּ֘ || <span style="color:#008000"> Q </span> || yiqtol || 3 || m || p || || || נפל
|-
| 11c || הַדִּיחֵ֑מוֹ || <span style="color:#0000FF"> H </span> || <big>'''impv'''</big> || 2 || m || s || || 3mp (מוֹ) || נדח
|-
| 11d || מָ֥רוּ || <span style="color:#008000"> Q </span> || qatal || 3 || c || p || || || מרה
|-
| 12a || וְיִשְׂמְח֙וּ || <span style="color:#008000"> Q </span> || weyiqtol || 3 || m || p || || || שׂמח
|-
| || ח֪וֹסֵי || <span style="color:#008000"> Q </span> || ptc || || m || p || || || חוס
|-
| 12b || יְ֭רַנֵּנוּ || <span style="color:#FF0000"> D </span> || yiqtol || 3 || m || p || || || רנן
|-
| 12c || וְתָסֵ֣ךְ || <span style="color:#0000FF"> H </span> || weyiqtol || 2 || m || s || || || סכך
|-
| 12d || וְֽיַעְלְצ֥וּ || <span style="color:#008000"> Q </span> || weyiqtol || 3 || m || p || || || עלץ
|-
| || אֹהֲבֵ֥י || <span style="color:#008000"> Q </span> || ptc || || m || p || || || אהב
|-
| 13a || תְּבָרֵ֪ךְ || <span style="color:#FF0000"> D </span> || yiqtol || 2 || m || s || || || ברך
|-
| 13b || תַּעְטְרֶֽנּוּ || <span style="color:#008000"> Q </span> || yiqtol || 2 || m || s || || 3ms (נּ) || עטר
|}
Wendland's Expository outline'"`UNIQ--ref-0000001D-QINU`"':
I. The psalmist describes the attack: (1-2)
:A. The heathen rage. But don’t fear because...
::''Ps 9:15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.''
::''Ps 33:10: The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.''
:B. The people have vain imaginations. “The people” indicate this was a popular, grassroots attack. Vain means “empty”.
::''2 Cor 10:5: Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.''
:C. The kings and rulers take counsel and set themselves against their target.
::1. It is a deliberate plan. “Set” means they take up a deliberate position.
::2. Their target is the Lord (YHWH) and His Anointed (Jesus, the Messiah); God’s plans, people, and purposes.
::3. The kings are political rulers.
::4. The rulers are religious rulers.
II. Their announcements: (3)
:A. Let us break their bands asunder.
:B. Let us cast away their cords from us.
::1. They want to rid themselves of all restraint.
:::Someday, the Holy Spirit who restrains will be taken out of the way and then the Antichrist will be revealed: 2 Th 2:7-10: ''For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.''
::2. What are some of the bands they want to cast away?
:::a. The bands of marriage.
:::b. The bands of God’s Word.
:::c. The bands of the laws of God and the land.
III. The Almighty: (4-9)
:A. His response:
::1. He laughs (mocks) them.
:::''Ps 59:8: But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them...''
:::Little men who defy God aren’t around long: For example, Mussolini, Stalin, Hitler, etc.
::2. He will have them in derision.
:::''Ps 59:8: But thou, O Lord...shalt have all the heathen in derision.''
::3. He troubles and terrifies them.
:B. His rebuke:
::1. He has already anointed, installed, and placed His King on His holy hill.
:::a. While they are proposing, God is disposing: He has already disposed of the matter. His King, Jesus Christ, is enthroned. As the book of Revelation reveals, their rebellion is futile.
:C. His rule: (7-9)
::1. He anoints and sets the anointed one in His place.
::2. He is the one who anoints us also and gives to us, as heirs of Christ:
:::a. The nations as an inheritance.
:::b. The uttermost parts of the earth as a possession.
::3. He empowers us to rule over all.
::4. He will resurrect His only begotten Son: Compare 2:7 with Acts 13:33.
IV. The advice: (10-12)
:A. Act wisely.
:B. Serve the Lord with fear (reverent awe).
:C. Rejoice with trembling (lest you displease Him).
::''Ps 18:49: Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.''
:D. Kiss the Son (pay homage to Him), lest you perish from the way when His wrath is kindled.
V. The advantage: (12) Those who put their trust in Him are blessed.
:Study further on trusting the Lord in Psalms and Proverbs. Here is a sampling:
:''Ps 4:5: Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.''
:''Ps 5:11: But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.''
:''Ps 9:10: And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.''
:''Ps 18:30: As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.''
:''Ps 20:7: Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.''
:''Ps 31:6: I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the Lord.''
:''Ps 37:3: Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.''
:''Ps 37:40: And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.''
:''Ps 37:40: And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.''
:''Ps 56:4: In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.''
:''Ps 56:11: In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.''
:''Ps 62:8: Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.''
:''Ps 64:10: The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.''
:''Ps 71:5: For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.''
:''Prov 3:5: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.''
:''Prov 29:25: The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.''
:''Prov 30:5: Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.''
[[File:Psalm 2 graphic.jpg|border|Figure 1]]
What date do we have for the introduction of final consonants, to know if it could have been original to the psalm? +
Word pairs in Psalm 4 occur consecutively rather than in parallel lines:
*בִלְבַבְכֶם עַל־מִשְׁכַּבְכֶם (v.5b; cf. Hos. 4:17)
*דְּגָנָם וְתִירוֹשָׁם (v.8b) +
Yahweh is addressed as אלהי צדקי. This particular phrase only occurs once in the MT. There are two options for interpreting the relationship between the constituents in this bound phrase. 1) The free member (צדקי) may be attributive ("my righteous God."). 2) The relationship may be possessive ("God of my righteousness," i.e., God adjudicates, awards, gives, maintains my legal rightness). Both essentially say the same thing, but the second option is contextually more suitable because the crisis of drought challenges David's legal rightness before God (see [[#Historical background|Historical background]] +
Yahweh is addressed in 5 lines toward the beginning of the Psalm and 5 lines toward the end of the Psalm. He is not addressed in vv. 5-7. +
Yahweh is addressed throughout the entire psalm. +
Yahweh is addressed throughout the psalm. "It is worth stressing that throughout the entire poem, the Creator is addressed directly and intimately: your name, you have established, your heavens, you remember them, and so on."'"`UNIQ--ref-00000F51-QINU`"' +
Yahweh is the subject for most of the Psalm (also Yahweh's name [2b, 10b] and majesty [2c]). Section 2 is exceptional; it begins in the first person (אראה), and the subjects are David (4ab) and humanity (5aα, 5bα) in addition to Yahweh (5aβ, 5bβ).
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Character Features
|-
! Ref. !! Speaker !! Addressee !! Person !! Subject/Agent
|-
| 2a || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || ||
|-
| 2b || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 3 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>'s name
|-
| 2c || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 3 || the setting of <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>'s majesty
|-
| 3a || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 3 || (the setting of <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>'s majesty)
|-
| 3b || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>
|-
| 3c || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>
|-
| 4a || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 1 || '''David'''
|-
| 4b || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || (1) || ('''David''')
|-
| 5aα || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 3 || '''אנושׁ '''
|-
| 5aβ || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>
|-
| 5bα || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 3 || '''בן אדם'''
|-
| 5bβ || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>
|-
| 6a || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>
|-
| 6b || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>
|-
| 7a || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>
|-
| 7b || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>
|-
| 8a || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || (2) || (<span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>)
|-
| 8b || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || (2) || (<span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>)
|-
| 9a || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || (2) || (<span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>)
|-
| 9b || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || (2) || (<span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>)
|-
| 10a || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 ||
|-
| 10b || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>'s name
|}
Yahweh rejects the wicked and blesses the righteous. +
Yahweh's majesty is manifested (surprisingly) in weak humanity. +