Psalm 37/Notes/Textual.vv. 35-36.323573

v. 36: The MT has a third person verb at the beginning of v. 36 (וַ֭יַּֽעֲבֹר), which could either refer to the passing away of the wicked man ("but he passed away," ESV, cf. NIV, CEV, NJPS) or to the passing by of an onlooker ("one passes by," NET, cf. LUT, ELB). The 3ms form is supported also by Symmachus (παρελθόντος δὲ αὐτοῦ) and the Targum (ופסק). Other modern translations reflect a first person verb (וָאֶעֲבֹר): "I passed by" (GNT, cf. NLT, CSB, HFA, NGÜ, GNB, ZÜR), a reading which is supported by the LXX (καὶ παρῆλθον), Jerome (iuta Hebr.) (transivi), the Peshitta (ܥܒܪܬ), and perhaps also by 4Q171 (ראי]תי רשע עריץ ומתע[רה...ו]אעבור על מ[קו]מו וה[נה אינ]נו וא[בקשהו] ולוא [נמצא]) (transcription by García Martínez and Tigchelaar 1997, 346; cf. DJD אעבור על פ[ניו], corrected by Strugnell 1970, 216 to ו]אעבור על מ[קו]מו וה[נה, so Pardee 1973). The strong manuscript support for this reading, along with the fact that it fits very well in the immediate context (parallel with the 1st person verb וָאֲבַקְשֵׁהוּ), suggests that it is the original reading. The reading וַיַּעֲבֹר (understood to refer to the "passing away" of the wicked person, so Targum) is probably an assimilation to the preceding verse which describes the activity of the wicked person. Another factor in favor of the 1cs reading (וָאֶעֲבֹר) is the use of הִנֵּה ("look!" or "get this!"). The particle הִנֵּה assumes that some noteworthy piece of information is about to be presented. If the wicked person "vanished" (ויעבר), then the fact that he "is no more" is not noteworthy. It would indeed be noteworthy, however, if the psalmist passed by expecting to see the wicked person but the wicked person was nowhere to be found. This use of עבר + הנה is similar to Prov 24:30-31—"I passed by (עָבַרְתִּי) the field of a sluggard... and behold (וְהִנֵּה), it was all overgrown with thorns..." (ESV; see also Ezek 37:2).