Psalm 37/Exegetical Issues/List

• The Text, Grammar, and Meaning of Psalm37:20

The text of Ps 37:20 is difficult to interpret, and this has resulted in a number of different translations. The main point of disagreement in the verse is the phrase כִּיקַר כָּרִים. The phrase could mean either "like the fat of lambs" (KJV) or "like the glory of the pastures" (ESV). The phrase could also represent a textual error, and the correct reading could be כִּיקֹד כֻּרִים ("like the burning of ovens", cf. REB).

• The Text of Psalm37:28

The difficulty in this verse centers around the words לְעוֹלָ֣ם נִשְׁמָ֑רוּ. The ESV (representative of most modern translations) translates these words as They are preserved forever. Other translations, however, choose to emend the text. The NJB, for example, adopts as its Hebrew text עַוָּלִים לְעוֹלָם נִשְׁמָדוּ, which it translates as Evil-doers will perish eternally. Other translations appear to adopt a slightly different Hebrew text: עַוָּלִים נִשְׁמָדוּ (or perhaps עַוָּלִים נִצְמָתוּ): Wrongdoers will be destroyed (cf. BDS, DHH94I).

• The Text and Meaning of Psalm37:35b

The second half of this verse (וּ֝מִתְעָרֶ֗ה כְּאֶזְרָ֥ח רַעֲנָֽן) is problematic. Several modern translations have notes saying that the Hebrew text is "difficult" (CEV, cf. NVS78P), "unclear" (GNT, cf. NBS) or "uncertain" (NRSV, ESV).