Approved/93/Expanded Paraphrase
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
| Text (Hebrew) | Verse | Expanded Paraphrase |
|---|---|---|
| יְהוָ֣ה מָלָךְ֮ גֵּא֪וּת לָ֫בֵ֥שׁ לָבֵ֣שׁ יְ֭הוָה עֹ֣ז הִתְאַזָּ֑ר אַף־תִּכּ֥וֹן תֵּ֝בֵ֗ל בַּל־תִּמּֽוֹט׃ | 1 | YHWH reigns forever, over the nations and over other gods - unlike Marduk or Baal! He is clothed with majesty as evident in his majestic acts. YHWH is clothed [with majesty]; he is armed with strength to control the forces of nature and provide stability for his creation. What's more: the world remains secure without moving ever since YHWH rebuked the waters and set their limits. |
| נָכ֣וֹן כִּסְאֲךָ֣ מֵאָ֑ז מֵֽעוֹלָ֣ם אָֽתָּה׃ | 2 | Since the world's stability indicates the stability of YHWH's throne, therefore we can confidently proclaim: Your throne has been secure from long ago; You have existed from eternity and will reign forever. |
| נָשְׂא֤וּ נְהָר֨וֹת ׀ יְֽהוָ֗ה נָשְׂא֣וּ נְהָר֣וֹת קוֹלָ֑ם יִשְׂא֖וּ נְהָר֣וֹת דָּכְיָֽם׃ | 3 | The seas that is, raiding and exiling enemies, just as those cosmic threats of legend, have lifted up [their voice], YHWH, the seas have lifted up their voice in vain, threatening to attack us and take us away; The seas would continually lift up their crushing (waves) to crush us and take us into exile among the nations. If they thought this would threaten YHWH's rule, it was all is in vain since YHWH's throne is stable! |
| מִקֹּל֨וֹת ׀ מַ֤יִם רַבִּ֗ים אַדִּירִ֣ים מִשְׁבְּרֵי־יָ֑ם אַדִּ֖יר בַּמָּר֣וֹם יְהוָֽה׃ | 4 | More than the voices of many waters - the waves of the sea are mighty; no one denies their power and persistence! Look what they did to the Egyptians!- YHWH is mighty in the high place, incomparable among the gods and majestic in holiness. |
| עֵֽדֹתֶ֨יךָ ׀ נֶאֶמְנ֬וּ מְאֹ֗ד לְבֵיתְךָ֥ נַאֲוָה־קֹ֑דֶשׁ יְ֝הוָ֗ה לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים׃ | 5 | Since he is holy, his throne is stable both when he acts in judgment and when we are at peace, so we can be confident that everything that comes from him is equally stable. Thus: Your (royal) decrees are entirely trustworthy, in no way threatened by judgment or exile, in the same way your reign is not threatened by the instability of the seas. You remain faithful to your covenant in both blessing and curse, since Holiness is fitting for your house, YHWH, in that you are dedicated to the holiness of your kingdom and we, as your people, are expected to pursue this same holiness in the land you have returned us to forever, as you have promised. |