Psalm 37 Speech Act

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Speech Act Analysis

What is Speech Act Analysis?

The Speech Act layer presents the text in terms of what it does, following the findings of Speech Act Theory. It builds on the recognition that there is more to communication than the exchange of propositions. Speech act analysis is particularly important when communicating cross-culturally, and lack of understanding can lead to serious misunderstandings, since the ways languages and cultures perform speech acts varies widely.

For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Speech Act Analysis Creator Guidelines.

Summary Visual

Speaker Verses Macro Speech Acts Addressee
David vv. 1-40
Exhortation
(vv. 1-40)
 Person
Don't get upset about the wicked!
Trust in YHWH and do good!
Supporting statement (v. 4)
The wicked will be destroyed, and the righteous will possess the land.

Speech Act Analysis Chart

The following chart is scrollable (left/right; up/down).

  Legend

Verse Hebrew CBC Sentence type Illocution (general) Illocution with context Macro speech act Intended perlocution (Think) Intended perlocution (Feel) Intended perlocution (Do)
Verse number and poetic line Hebrew text English translation Declarative, Imperative, or Interrogative

Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type		 Assertive, Directive, Expressive, Commissive, or Declaratory

Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type		 More specific illocution type with paraphrased context Illocutionary intent (i.e. communicative purpose) of larger sections of discourse

These align with the "Speech Act Summary" headings		 What the speaker intends for the address to think What the speaker intends for the address to feel What the speaker intends for the address to do



If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.

Emendations/Revocalizations legend
*Emended text* Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation.
*Revocalized text* Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization.
Verse Text (Hebrew) Text (CBC) Sentence type Illocution (general) Illocution with context Macro speech act Intended perlocution (Think) Intended perlocution (Feel) Intended perlocution (Do) Speech Act Notes
ss לְדָוִד By David. Fragment
1 אַל־תִּתְחַר בַּמְּרֵעִים Do not get upset about those who act wickedly; Imperative Directive Exhorting the person to not get upset about those who act wickedly Exhorting to not get upset about the wicked, but to trust in YHWH Exhortation Person realizing that the success of the wicked is short-lived. Person letting go of anger and trusting in YHWH. Person resolving to do good while waiting for YHWH to act. Psalm 37 consists of a series of exhortations to a person who is struggling to trust in YHWH when the wicked are prospering (see Story Behind). These exhortations are mixed with a variety of other speech acts: predictions about the destruction of the wicked, predictions about the peace and prosperity of the righteous, descriptions of how YHWH cares for the righteous, personal anecdotes, etc. But the purpose of all of these assertive speech acts is to ground the exhortations. The whole psalm, therefore, can be characterized as "exhortation." The label "advice" or "counsel" would also be appropriate, since the exhortations are given by someone who is older and wiser and are aimed at helping the addressee overcome a specific problem. II II Some of the Church Fathers aptly characterized the psalm as paraenesis (παραίνεσις), a literary category which captures the elements of both "exhortation" and "advice or counsel given by a person" (LSJ). For example, Theodore of Mopsuestia (4th-5th century) writes, "While all the psalms by blessed David have regard to people's benefit, he did not employ in them one genre... There are times when he... delivers an exhortation (παραίνεσις)..., forbidding what must be avoided and advising what should be done. This psalm is of that kind" (Theodore, trans. Hill 2006, 410-413; so also Theodoret, PG 80.1125, who uses the same term to classify Ps 37; cf. Origen, trans. Trigg 2020, 76). East Syriac manuscripts, probably influenced by Theodore's commentary, helpfully give the psalm a superscription that says: "an admonition (מרתינותא) and instruction (מלפנותא) for everyone" (Taylor 2020, 135). II II As an acrostic, Psalm 37 does not exhibit a linear speech-act progression (e.g., lament --> prayer --> praise). Rather, the whole psalm circles around a single theme, approaching it from many different angles (see Poetic Feature #1), with the basic purpose of admonishing and instructing the addressee.
אַל־תְּקַנֵּא בְּעֹשֵׂי עַוְלָֽה׃ Do not be jealous of those who do wrong. Imperative Directive Exhorting the person to not to be jealous of those who do wrong
2 כִּי כֶחָצִיר מְהֵרָה יִמָּלוּ For they will soon wither like grass, Declarative Assertive Giving a reason why the person should not get upset about the wicked: comparing the wicked to grass
וּכְיֶרֶק דֶּשֶׁא יִבּוֹלֽוּן׃ and they will fade like green leaves on plants. Declarative Assertive Giving a reason why the person should not be jealous of the wicked: comparing the wicked to green leaves on plants
3 בְּטַח בַּֽיהוָה Trust in YHWH Imperative Directive Exhorting the person to trust in YHWH
וַעֲשֵׂה־טוֹב and do good! Imperative Directive Exhorting the person to do good
שְׁכָן־אֶרֶץ Reside in the land Imperative Assertive Assuring the person that if he trusts YHWH and does good, he will reside in the land For the use of the imperative to communicate assurance, cf. GKC §110c; JM §114p; IBHS §34.4c; KJV. See e.g., 2 Kgs 19:29: "This will be the sign for you, Hezekiah: 'This year you will eat what grows by itself, and the second year what springs from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant (זִרְע֧וּ וְקִצְר֛וּ וְנִטְע֥וּ) vineyards and eat (וְאִכְל֥וּ) their fruit'" (NIV). Here, as in Ps 37, the use of imperatives (rather than yiqtols) makes the events "more emphatic and vivid" (IBHS §34.4c) and conveys to the hearer that this future is certain.
וּרְעֵה אֱמוּנָֽה׃ and graze securely! Imperative Assertive Assuring the person that if he trusts in YHWH and does good, he will graze securely in the land.
4 וְהִתְעַנַּג עַל־יְהוָה And then you will delight yourself in YHWH, Imperative Assertive Assuring the person that if he trusts in YHWH and does good, he will delight himself in YHWH
וְיִֽתֶּן־לְךָ מִשְׁאֲלֹת לִבֶּֽךָ׃ and he will give you your heart's desires. Declarative Assertive Assuring the person that if he trusts in YHWH and does good, YHWH will give him his heart's desires
5 גּוֹל עַל־יְהוָה דַּרְכֶּךָ Commit your way to YHWH, Imperative Directive Exhorting the person to 'leave all to the LORD' (NJPS)
וּבְטַח עָלָיו and trust in him, Imperative Directive Exhorting the person to trust in YHWH
וְהוּא יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ and he will act, Declarative Assertive Assuring the person that YHWH will act on behalf of those who trust in him
6 וְהוֹצִיא כָאוֹר צִדְקֶךָ and he will make your righteousness known like the light, Declarative Assertive Assuring the person that, if he trusts in YHWH, YHWH will make his righteousness known to everyone
וּמִשְׁפָּטֶךָ כַּֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם׃ and [he will make] your justice [known] like midday. Declarative Assertive Assuring the person that, if he trusts in YHWH, YHWH will make his justice known to everyone
7 דּוֹם׀ לַיהוָה Be silent before YHWH Imperative Directive Exhorting the person to be silent before YHWH
וְהִתְחוֹלֵל לוֹ and wait for him! Imperative Directive Exhorting the person to wait for YHWH
אַל־תִּתְחַר בְּמַצְלִיחַ דַּרְכּוֹ בְּאִישׁ עֹשֶׂה מְזִמּֽוֹת׃ Do not get upset about someone who makes his way successful, at a person carrying out schemes. Imperative Directive Exhorting the person to not get upset about someone making his way successful and carrying out schemes
8 הֶרֶף מֵאַף Let go of anger Imperative Directive Exhorting the person to let go of anger
וַעֲזֹב חֵמָה and leave wrath behind! Imperative Directive Exhorting the person to leave wrath behind.
אַל־תִּתְחַר אַךְ־לְהָרֵעַ Do not get upset only to act wickedly! Imperative Directive Exhorting the person to not get upset and warning him that getting upset only leads to acting wickedly
9 כִּֽי־מְרֵעִים יִכָּרֵתוּן For those who act wickedly will be destroyed; Declarative Assertive Giving a reason why the person should not get upset: assuring the person that the wicked will be destroyed
וְקֹוֵי יְהוָה הֵמָּה יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָֽרֶץ׃ but those who hope in YHWH—they will possess the land. Declarative Assertive Giving a reason why the person should wait for YHWH: assuring the person that those who hope in YHWH will possess the land
10 וְעוֹד מְעַט And just a little bit longer, Declarative Assertive Assuring the person that it will not be long
וְאֵין רָשָׁע and the wicked person will be gone; Declarative Assertive Assuring the person that the wicked will soon be gone
וְהִתְבּוֹנַנְתָּ עַל־מְקוֹמוֹ And you will look closely at the place where he was, Declarative Assertive Assuring the person that the wicked will soon be gone
וְאֵינֶֽנּוּ׃ and he will not be there. Declarative Assertive Assuring the person that the wicked will be gone
11 וַעֲנָוִים יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָרֶץ But the humble will possess the land Declarative Assertive Assuring the person that the humble will possess the land
וְהִתְעַנְּגוּ עַל־רֹב שָׁלֽוֹם׃ and delight themselves in great prosperity. Declarative Assertive Assuring the person that the humble will delight themselves in great prosperity
12 זֹמֵם רָשָׁע לַצַּדִּיק The wicked person is plotting against the righteous person Declarative Assertive Describing the present situation, in which the wicked person is plotting against the righteous Predicting the destruction of the wicked, in contrast to the peaceful and prosperous future of the righteous Person realizing that the success of the wicked is short-lived; II Person looking away from the present and looking towards the imminent future, when the wicked will be destroyed and the righteous will possess the land forever. Person changing his attitude towards the wicked: from anger and envy to laughable contempt (cf. v. 13)
וְחֹרֵק עָלָיו שִׁנָּֽיו׃ and grinding his teeth at him. Declarative Assertive Describing the present situation, in which the wicked person is grinding his teeth at the righteous
13 אֲדֹנָי יִשְׂחַק־לוֹ The Lord laughs at him, Declarative Assertive Describing YHWH's response to the wicked person
כִּֽי־רָאָה כִּֽי־יָבֹא יוֹמֽוֹ׃ because he sees that his time will come. Declarative Assertive Explaining why YHWH responds to the wicked person with laughter: claiming that YHWH sees that the wicked person's time will come
14 חֶרֶב׀ פָּֽתְחוּ רְשָׁעִים The wicked have drawn swords Declarative Assertive Describing the present situation in which the wicked have prepared themselves to oppress the righteous
וְדָרְכוּ קַשְׁתָּם and strung their bows Declarative Assertive Describing the present situation in which the wicked have prepared themselves to oppress the righteous
לְהַפִּיל עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן in order to bring down the one who is afflicted and poor,
לִטְבוֹחַ יִשְׁרֵי־דָֽרֶךְ׃ in order to slaughter those whose conduct is upright.
15 חַרְבָּם תָּבוֹא בְלִבָּם Their swords will go into their hearts, Declarative Assertive Predicting that the swords of the wicked will go into their own hearts
וְקַשְּׁתוֹתָם תִּשָּׁבַֽרְנָה׃ and their bows will be broken. Declarative Assertive Predicting that the bows of the wicked will be broken
16 טוֹב־מְעַט לַצַּדִּיק מֵהֲמוֹן רְשָׁעִים רַבִּֽים׃ A little belonging to the righteous person is better than the abundance of many wicked people. Declarative Assertive Claiming that a little belonging to the righteous is better than the abundance of many wicked people
17 כִּי זְרוֹעוֹת רְשָׁעִים תִּשָּׁבַרְנָה For the arms of the wicked will be broken, Declarative Assertive Giving a reason for his claim: predicting that the arms of the wicked will be broken
וְסוֹמֵךְ צַדִּיקִים יְהוָֽה׃ but YHWH is upholding the righteous. Declarative Assertive Giving a reason for his claim: describing what YHWH does for the righteous
18 יוֹדֵעַ יְהוָה יְמֵי תְמִימִם YHWH knows the days of the blameless, Declarative Assertive Describing YHWH's protective care of the righteous throughout their days
וְנַחֲלָתָם לְעוֹלָם תִּהְיֶֽה׃ and their inheritance will be forever. Declarative Assertive Predicting that the inheritance of the righteous will last forever, as the result of YHWH's constant and life-long care
19 לֹֽא־יֵבֹשׁוּ בְּעֵת רָעָה They will not come to shame during hard times, Declarative Assertive Predicting that the righteous will not come to shame during hard times, because YHWH cares for them
וּבִימֵי רְעָבוֹן יִשְׂבָּֽעוּ׃ and they will eat their fill during times of famine. Declarative Assertive Predicting that the righteous will have enough to eat during times of famine, as the result of YHWH's constant care
20 כִּי רְשָׁעִים׀ יֹאבֵדוּ For the wicked will perish, Declarative Assertive Summing up the basic premise of his argument: predicting that the wicked will perish
וְאֹיְבֵי יְהוָה כִּיקַר כָּרִים and YHWH's enemies [will perish] like flowers in a pasture. Declarative Assertive Summing up the basic premise of his argument: predicting that the wicked will perish
כָּלוּ בֶעָשָׁן They are finished like smoke! Declarative Assertive Claiming that the wicked are as good as finished; describing them as though they have already come to an end For the use of the qatal describing future events as though they have already happened, cf. Rogland 2003, 113; JM §112g; IBHS §30.5.1e.
כָּֽלוּ׃ They are finished! Declarative Assertive Claiming that the wicked are as good as finished; describing them as though they have already come to an end For the use of the qatal describing future events as though they have already happened, cf. Rogland 2003, 113; JM §112g; IBHS §30.5.1e.
21 לֹוֶה רָשָׁע The wicked person is borrowing Declarative Assertive Describing the present situation, in which the wicked person is taking advantage of the generosity of others, i.e., borrowing without the intention of paying back Exhorting to do good; supported by contrasting the behavior of the righteous and the wicked and contrasting their fates Person understanding what it looks like to follow YHWH and "do good." Person feeling secure because of YHWH's abundant provision, both now and in the future; feeling love for YHWH's instruction (v. 31). Person resolving to turn from evil and do good, i.e., to give generously to others (cf. vv. 21, 26), to pursue righteousness and justice according to YHWH's instruction (cf. vv. 30-31).
וְלֹא יְשַׁלֵּם and will not repay, Declarative Assertive Describing the present situation, in which the wicked person is taking advantage of the generosity of others, i.e., borrowing without the intention of paying back
וְצַדִּיק חוֹנֵן וְנוֹתֵֽן׃ but the righteous person is giving generously. Declarative Assertive Describing the behavior of the righteous, in response to and in contrast to the behavior of the wicked
22 כִּי מְבֹרָכָיו יִירְשׁוּ אָרֶץ For those blessed by him will possess the land, Declarative Assertive Explaining the reason why the righteous give so generously (as well as the result of their generosity)
וּמְקֻלָּלָיו יִכָּרֵֽתוּ׃ and those cursed by him will be destroyed. Declarative Assertive Contrasting the fate of the righteous with the fate of the wicked
23 מֵיְהוָה מִֽצְעֲדֵי־גֶבֶר כּוֹנָנוּ When a person's steps are made steadfast by YHWH, Declarative Assertive Explaining how YHWH is the one who establishes a person's steps
וְדַרְכּוֹ יֶחְפָּֽץ׃ then he will be pleased with his way. Declarative Assertive Explaining how YHWH delights in the way of the person whose steps he has established
24 כִּֽי־יִפֹּל When he falls, Declarative Assertive Describing how the righteous person does not fall flat even when he falls
לֹֽא־יוּטָל he will not fall flat.
כִּֽי־יְהוָה סוֹמֵךְ יָדֽוֹ׃ because YHWH is supporting his hand. Declarative Assertive Explaining why the righteous person does not fall flat when they fall: claiming that YHWH is supporting his hand
25 נַעַר׀ הָיִיתִי I was once a young man; Declarative Assertive Claiming to have lived a long time and to have gained a lot of experience
גַּם־זָקַנְתִּי and now I am old, Declarative Assertive Claiming to have lived a long time and to have gained a lot of experience
וְֽלֹא־רָאִיתִי צַדִּיק נֶעֱזָב וְזַרְעוֹ מְבַקֶּשׁ־לָֽחֶם׃ and I have not seen a righteous person abandoned or his children looking for food. Declarative Assertive Sharing his experience: claiming to have never seen a righteous person abandoned or his children looking for food
26 כָּל־הַיּוֹם חוֹנֵן וּמַלְוֶה He is always lending generously, Declarative Assertive Sharing his experience: describing the continuous generosity of the righteous, as evidence of YHWH's provision
וְזַרְעוֹ לִבְרָכָֽה׃ and his children will become a blessing. Declarative Assertive Sharing his experience: describing how the generosity of the righteous always leads to their children becoming a blessing
27 סוּר מֵרָע Turn away from evil Imperative Directive Exhorting the person to turn away from evil
וַעֲשֵׂה־טוֹב and do good, Imperative Directive Exhorting the person to do good
וּשְׁכֹן לְעוֹלָֽם׃ and you will reside forever! Imperative Assertive Assuring the person that if he turns away from evil and does good, he will reside in the land forever
28a* כִּי יְהוָה׀ אֹהֵב מִשְׁפָּט For YHWH loves justice, Declarative Assertive Explaining why "doing good" results in residing in the land forever: claiming that YHWH loves justice
28b* וְלֹא־יַעֲזֹב אֶת־חֲסִידָיו and he will not abandon those who are loyal to him. Declarative Assertive Explaining why "doing good" results in residing in the land forever: claiming that YHWH does not abandon those who are loyal to him
30* פִּֽי־צַדִּיק יֶהְגֶּה חָכְמָה A righteous person's mouth utters what is wise, Declarative Assertive Describing the speech of the righteous: claiming that they speak what is wise
וּלְשׁוֹנוֹ תְּדַבֵּר מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ and his tongue speaks what is just. Declarative Assertive Describing the speech of the righteous: claiming that they speak what is just
31* תּוֹרַת אֱלֹהָיו בְּלִבּוֹ The instruction of his God is in his heart. Declarative Assertive Explaining how the righteous are able to speak with such wisdom and justice
לֹא תִמְעַד אֲשֻׁרָיו׃ His steps will not slip. Declarative Assertive Explaining the result of internalizing YHWH's instruction: claiming that the righteous person who has internalized YHWH's instruction will not slip
28b* *עַוָּלִים נִשְׁמָדוּ* Wrong-doers are exterminated, Declarative Assertive Claiming that evildoers are as good as exterminated; describing them as though they have already been exterminated For the use of the qatal describing future events as though they have already happened, cf. Rogland 2003, 113; JM §112g; IBHS §30.5.1e.
וְזֶרַע רְשָׁעִים נִכְרָֽת׃ and the children of the wicked are destroyed! Declarative Assertive Claiming that the children of the wicked are as good as destroyed; describing them as though they have already been destroyed For the use of the qatal describing future events as though they have already happened, cf. Rogland 2003, 113; JM §112g; IBHS §30.5.1e.
29* צַדִּיקִים יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָרֶץ The righteous will possess the land Declarative Assertive Predicting that the righteous will possess the land
וְיִשְׁכְּנוּ לָעַד עָלֶֽיהָ׃ and reside on it forever. Declarative Assertive Predicting that the righteous will reside on the land forever
32 צוֹפֶה רָשָׁע לַצַּדִּיק The wicked person is watching for the righteous person Declarative Assertive Describing the present situation, in which the wicked person is watching for the righteous Predicting the destruction of the wicked, in contrast to the peaceful and prosperous future of the righteous Person understanding that the success of the wicked is short-lived; II Person looking away from the present and looking towards the imminent future, when the wicked will be destroyed and the righteous will possess the land forever. Person feeling hopeful about the future. Person hoping in YHWH and resolving to keep his way; person observing the blameless and upright.
וּמְבַקֵּשׁ לַהֲמִיתוֹ׃ and trying to kill him. Declarative Assertive Describing the present situation in which the wicked person is trying to kill the righteous
33 יְהוָה לֹא־יַעַזְבֶנּוּ בְיָדוֹ YHWH will not abandon him into his hand, Declarative Assertive Predicting that YHWH will not abandon the righteous person into the wicked person's hand
וְלֹא יַרְשִׁיעֶנּוּ בְּהִשָּׁפְטֽוֹ׃ and he will not let him be condemned as guilty when he enters into judgment. Declarative Assertive Predicting that YHWH will not let the righteous person be condemned when he enters into judgment
34 קַוֵּה אֶל־יְהוָה׀ Hope in YHWH Imperative Directive Exhorting the person to hope in YHWH
וּשְׁמֹר דַּרְכּוֹ and keep his way, Imperative Directive Exhorting the person to keep YHWH's way
וִֽירוֹמִמְךָ לָרֶשֶׁת אָרֶץ and he will exalt you to possess the land. Declarative Assertive Assuring the person that if he hopes in YHWH and keeps his way, YHWH will exalt him to possess the land
בְּהִכָּרֵת רְשָׁעִים תִּרְאֶֽה׃ You will see when the wicked are destroyed. Declarative Assertive Assuring the person that the wicked will be destroyed, and that he will live to see it happen
35 רָאִיתִי רָשָׁע עָרִיץ I once saw a ruthless wicked person, Declarative Assertive Sharing a personal experience about a wicked person: telling about a time when he saw a wicked person
וּמִתְעָרֶה כְּאֶזְרָח רַעֲנָֽן׃ and he was ascending like a native tree. Declarative Assertive Sharing a personal experience about a wicked person: describing the wicked person as a native tree
36 וָאֶעֲבֹר Then I passed by, Declarative Assertive Sharing a personal experience about a wicked person: telling about the time when he passed by the place where the wicked person was
וְהִנֵּה אֵינֶנּוּ and—get this!—he was gone; Declarative Assertive Sharing a personal experience about a wicked person: describing the surprising disappearance of the wicked person
וָֽאֲבַקְשֵׁהוּ then I looked for him, Declarative Assertive Sharing a personal experience about a wicked person: telling about the time when he looked for the wicked person
וְלֹא נִמְצָֽא׃ and he was not found. Declarative Assertive Sharing a personal experience about a wicked person: describing the total disappearance of the wicked person
37 שְׁמָר־תָּם Pay attention to the blameless one Imperative Directive Exhorting the person to pay attention to a blameless person
וּרְאֵה יָשָׁר and look at the upright one, Imperative Directive Exhorting the person to look at an upright person
כִּֽי־אַחֲרִית לְאִישׁ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ because the future of a [blameless] person is peace. Declarative Assertive Giving a reason for the exhortation: claiming that the future of such a person is peace
38 וּֽפֹשְׁעִים נִשְׁמְדוּ יַחְדָּו But those who rebel are completely exterminated! Declarative Assertive Contrasting the fate of the blameless/upright with the fate of those who rebel; describing them as having already been extermined For the use of the qatal describing future events as though they have already happened, cf. Rogland 2003, 113; JM §112g; IBHS §30.5.1e.
אַחֲרִית רְשָׁעִים נִכְרָֽתָה׃ The future of the wicked is destroyed! Declarative Assertive Contrasting the future of the blameless/upright with the future of those who rebel; describing their future as having already been destroyed For the use of the qatal describing future events as though they have already happened, cf. Rogland 2003, 113; JM §112g; IBHS §30.5.1e.
39 וּתְשׁוּעַת צַדִּיקִים מֵיְהוָה מָעוּזָּם בְּעֵת צָרָה But the salvation of the righteous comes from YHWH, their fortress during times of trouble, Declarative Assertive Contrasting the destruction of the wicked with the salvation of the righteous: claiming that YHWH rescues the righteous
40 וַֽיַּעְזְרֵם יְהוָה and YHWH helps them Declarative Assertive Claiming that YHWH helps the righteous
וַֽיְפַלְּטֵם and rescues them. Declarative Assertive Claiming that YHWH rescues the righteous
יְפַלְּטֵם מֵרְשָׁעִים He will rescue them from the wicked Declarative Assertive Predicting that YHWH will rescue the righteous from the wicked
וְיוֹשִׁיעֵם and save them, Declarative Assertive Predicting that YHWH will save the righteous
כִּי־חָסוּ בֽוֹ׃ because they have sought refuge in him. Declarative Assertive Explaining why YHWH will rescue the righteous: describing how the righteous have sought refuge in YHWH as in a fortress