Psalm 5 Verse-by-Verse

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Welcome to the DRAFT Verse-by-Verse Notes for Psalm 5!

The Verse-by-Verse Notes present scholarly, exegetical materials (from all layers of analysis) in a verse-by-verse format. They often present alternative interpretive options and justification for a preferred interpretation. The Verse-by-Verse Notes are aimed at consultant-level users.

The discussion of each verse of this psalm includes the following items.

1. A link to the part of the overview video where the verse in question is discussed.
2. The verse in Hebrew and English.
3. An expanded paraphrase of the verse.
4. A grammatical diagram of the verse, which includes glosses for each word and phrase.
5. A series of notes on the verse, which contain information pertaining to the interpretation of the psalm (e.g., meaning of words and phrases, poetic features, difficult grammatical constructions, etc.).

Superscription (v. 1)

v. 1

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
1	לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ אֶֽל־הַנְּחִיל֗וֹת מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃	For the director, on the flutes, a psalm by David.

Expanded Paraphrase

For the director, on the flutes, a psalm by David.

Grammatical Diagram

Appeal (v. 2-3)

v. 2

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
2a	אֲמָרַ֖י הַאֲזִ֥ינָה ׀ יְהוָ֗ה	Listen to my words, YHWH.
2b	בִּ֣ינָה הֲגִֽיגִי	Understand my murmuring.

Expanded Paraphrase

Listen to my words (which I am about to present to you in this psalm), YHWH. (Listen closely, so that you) understand my murmuring.

Grammatical Diagram

v. 3

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
3a	הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה ׀ לְק֬וֹל שַׁוְעִ֗י	Pay attention to the sound of my cry for help,
3b	מַלְכִּ֥י וֵאלֹהָ֑י	my king and my God,
3c	כִּֽי־אֵ֝לֶ֗יךָ אֶתְפַּלָּֽל׃	for I am praying to you.

Expanded Paraphrase

(I am in distress.) Pay attention to the sound of my cry for help (and deliver me from my distress). (You are) my king and my God (with whom I, as your vassal king, am in a privileged relationship.) (Listen,) for (I have not sought help from anyone else. Instead,) I am praying to you.

Grammatical Diagram

Precedent (vv. 4-8)

v. 4

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
4a	יְֽהוָ֗ה בֹּ֭קֶר תִּשְׁמַ֣ע קוֹלִ֑י	YHWH, in the morning you hear my voice.
4b	בֹּ֥קֶר אֶֽעֱרָךְ־לְ֝ךָ֗ וַאֲצַפֶּֽה	In the morning I arrange [my case] for you and wait.

Expanded Paraphrase

YHWH, (anytime I have a legal case to make against my enemies, who cause me distress, I bring it before you, because) (you are my king) (and the king is responsible for deciding legal cases.) In the morning, (the time when the sun, a symbol of justice, rises to expose the darkness and judicial proceedings usually commence,) you hear my voice. In the morning, I arrange my (words into a legal) case for you and wait (expectantly for your response and decision, like a watchman standing watch atop a citadel in eager expectation of what is to come).

Grammatical Diagram

v. 5

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
5a	כִּ֤י ׀ לֹ֤א אֵֽל־חָפֵ֘ץ רֶ֥שַׁע ׀ אָ֑תָּה	For you are not a god pleased with wickedness.
5b	לֹ֖א יְגֻרְךָ֣ רָֽע׃	Evil will not sojourn with you.

Expanded Paraphrase

(I am now bringing case before you,) (and here is the first part of my argument). (You should decide in my favour) For you are not a god pleased with wickedness. (Therefore,) Evil (like a nomad seeking to reside for a while under your provision and protection) will not sojourn with you. (And so, my enemies, who are wicked, should not experience your pleasure, provision or protection.)

Grammatical Diagram

v. 6

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
6a	לֹֽא־יִתְיַצְּב֣וּ הֽ֭וֹלְלִים לְנֶ֣גֶד עֵינֶ֑יךָ	Boasters will not stand before your eyes.
6b	שָׂ֝נֵ֗אתָ כָּל־פֹּ֥עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן	You hate all workers of evil.

Expanded Paraphrase

Boasters will not stand before your eyes, (because) you hate all workers of evil, (and my enemies are boastful workers of evil).

Grammatical Diagram

v. 7

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
7a	תְּאַבֵּד֮ דֹּבְרֵ֪י כָ֫זָ֥ב	You will destroy speakers of falsehood.
7b	אִישׁ־דָּמִ֥ים וּמִרְמָ֗ה יְתָ֘עֵ֥ב ׀ יְהוָֽה׃	YHWH abhors a person of bloodshed and treachery.

Expanded Paraphrase

You will destroy speakers of falsehood. (YHWH acts in this way, because) YHWH abhors a person of bloodshed and treachery. (My enemies are characterised by these very things: falsehood, bloodshed, and treachery. Therefore, if you are true to your character, YHWH, you will destroy them.)

Grammatical Diagram

v. 8

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
8a	וַאֲנִ֗י בְּרֹ֣ב חַ֭סְדְּךָ אָב֣וֹא בֵיתֶ֑ךָ	But I, in the greatness of your loyalty, will go to your house.
8b	אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה אֶל־הֵֽיכַל־קָ֝דְשְׁךָ֗ בְּיִרְאָתֶֽךָ׃	I will bow down toward your holy temple in fear of you.

Expanded Paraphrase

But (you have made a covenant with me, YHWH, and you are always true to your covenant promises.) (Therefore, whereas my enemies cannot be in your presence,) I, in the greatness of your loyalty, will go to your house, (the place, in Jerusalem, where you are worshipped.) (I am currently away from your house,) (and so I am away from your special presence.) (My enemies within my own kingdom have rebelled and driven me into exile.) (I long to be in your presence again and to look again upon the ark of your covenant). (Surely, you will bring me back, and) I will bow down toward your holy temple (your royal residence) in fear of you.

Grammatical Diagram

Petition (v. 9-12)

v. 9

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
9a	יְהוָ֤ה ׀ נְחֵ֬נִי בְצִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ	YHWH, lead me in your righteousness
9b	לְמַ֥עַן שׁוֹרְרָ֑י	because of my enemies.
9c	הושר הַיְשַׁ֖ר לְפָנַ֣י דַּרְכֶּֽךָ׃	Make your way straight before me.

Expanded Paraphrase

YHWH, (you are righteous, and you always act right by your covenant.) (As I seek to return to your house in Jerusalem,) lead me in your righteousness. (My enemies prevent me from returning safely. So, I need you to lead me back) because of my enemies. Make your way straight before me.

Grammatical Diagram

v. 10

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
10a	כִּ֤י אֵ֪ין בְּפִ֡יהוּ נְכוֹנָה֮	For there is nothing true in his mouth.
10b	קִרְבָּ֪ם הַ֫וּ֥וֹת	Their inner parts are disaster.
10c	קֶֽבֶר־פָּת֥וּחַ גְּרוֹנָ֑ם	Their throat is an open tomb.
10d	לְ֝שׁוֹנָ֗ם יַחֲלִֽיקוּן׃	They make their tongues deceitful.

Expanded Paraphrase

(Here is the second part of my argument for why you should declare my enemies guilty:) (Not only do you hate evildoers in general, but my enemies are evildoers.) For there is nothing true in his mouth. (Their speech can't be trusted, because) Their inner parts are disaster. Their throat (an organ of speech) is an open tomb (which they fill with their dead victims). They make their tongues deceitful.

Grammatical Diagram

v. 11

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
11a	הַֽאֲשִׁימֵ֨ם ׀ אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים	Make them bear their guilt, God.
11b	יִפְּלוּ֮ מִֽמֹּעֲצ֪וֹתֵ֫יהֶ֥ם	Let them fall on account of their designs.
11c	בְּרֹ֣ב פִּ֭שְׁעֵיהֶם הַדִּיחֵ֑מוֹ	Drive them out because of the greatness of their crimes,
11d	כִּי־מָ֥רוּ בָֽךְ׃	for they have rebelled against you.

Expanded Paraphrase

(Having heard my case for why my enemies are guilty,) make them bear their guilt, God. (They have, in violence, deceit, and treachery, designed plots against me.) Let them fall from their designs. (They have driven me out of the land, away from your presence), (but it is they who deserve to be driven from the land). Drive them out because of the greatness of their crimes, for (by rebelling against me, your anointed king,) they have rebelled against you.

Grammatical Diagram

v. 12

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
12a	וְיִשְׂמְח֨וּ כָל־ח֪וֹסֵי בָ֡ךְ	And let all those who take refuge in you rejoice.
12b	לְעוֹלָ֣ם יְ֭רַנֵּנוּ וְתָסֵ֣ךְ עָלֵ֑ימוֹ	Let them shout forever, and you may you shelter them,
12c	וְֽיַעְלְצ֥וּ בְ֝ךָ֗ אֹהֲבֵ֥י שְׁמֶֽךָ	and let those who love you exult in you.

Expanded Paraphrase

And (as a result of your justice being executed, your realm purged of evildoers and your anointed king restored), let all those who take refuge in you (who have remained loyal to me and to you, and who will live in your protective presence) rejoice. Let them shout forever, and may you shelter them, and let those who love you exult in you.

Grammatical Diagram

Resolution (v. 13)

v. 13

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v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
13a	כִּֽי־אַתָּה֮ תְּבָרֵ֪ךְ צַ֫דִּ֥יק	For you bless the righteous one.
13b	יְהוָ֑ה כַּ֝צִּנָּ֗ה רָצ֥וֹן תַּעְטְרֶֽנּוּ	YHWH, like a large shield, you surround him with favour.

Expanded Paraphrase

For you (as the righteous king and judge of all) bless the righteous one, (the one whose behavior conforms to your requirements), (and not the wicked one). YHWH, like a large shield (which gives protection in battle,) you surround him with favour.

Grammatical Diagram

Legends

Grammatical diagram

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Grammatical Term	Definition	Diagram	Example
Clausal Additions
Subject	The subject performs the action of the active verb or receives the action of a passive verb. With intransitive verbs	Indicated at the beginning of the main clausal line, and followed by a vertical line that crosses over the main clause line (separating the subject from the predicate).
Direct Object	Object that receives the direct action of a (transitive) verb	Indicate with a vertical line up from main clausal line
Predicate adjective/ Subject complement	A word used with a linking verb (ex. "to be"), renaming or restating the subject. Can be a whole prepositional phrase.	Indicate with a vertical slanted line up from the main clausal line. It can be on a stand if it is an embedded clause.
Object Complement	Word following a direct object to state what it has become.	Indicate with a vertical slanted line up from the main clausal line.
Infinitives	Can be subject, adverbial, or an infinitive construct.	Indicate with double vertical lines that cross the main clausal line. If used adverbially (ie. an embedded clause), place on a stand.
Participles	A verbal noun/adjective that can be used in three positions: (1) substantival; (2) attributive; (3) predicative.	Indicate with a round vertical line. Substantival participles are placed on a stand (they are embedded). Attributive participles are placed with a rounded line underneath what is modified.
Modifiers
Adjectives	A word modifying a noun to indicate quality, quantity, extent, or differentiating something from something else.	Indicate with a slanted line down from what is modified.
Adverbs	A word that modifies a verb, adverb, adjective, prepositional phrase, clause, or sentence to express a relation (ex. manner, quality, or time).	Indicate with a slanted line down from what is modified.
Construct relationships	Construction can express many different relationships between two (or more) nouns. English grammarians call this construction a ‘Construct’ (our term) or ‘Genitive’ phrase; Hebrew grammarians call it smīḵūt (סְמִיכוּת).	Indicate with a stair-step down from the modified word/clause/phrase.
Prepositional phrases	A phrase that consists of a preposition and its object and has adjectival or adverbial value	Indicate with a slanted vertical line connecting to a new clause.
Connectives	(1) Coordinating conjunctions join together words or word groups of equal grammatical rank (2) Subordinating conjunctions join a main clause and a clause which does not form a complete sentence by itself.	Indicate with a dashed line down from a vertical line marker.
Embedded clause	A clause inside another clause which can include substantival participles, adverbial infinitives, and prepositional phrases.	Indicate using stilts.
Particles
Subordinating particle	Indicates a dependent clause.	Indicate with a dashed line down from the antecedent to the pronoun.
Apposition	A word that is functioning as an explanatory equivalent as another in the sentence	Place on a line apart from the diagram but next to the word it is the equivalent of with an equal sign in between.
Vocative	Indicating a person being addressed (usually with a 2nd person verb)	Place on a line apart from the diagram next to the '()' indicating the gapped subject an equal sign in between.

Master Diagram

Shapes and colours on grammatical diagram

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	Prepositional phrase	Construct chain	Construct chain within a prepositional phrase	Phrase-level waw	Article and כֹּל
Diagram Shading
Definition	- A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition plus its object. The phrase usually modifies the clause or another constituent in the clause.	- A construct chain, also called a 'genitive phrase', is a grammatical encoding of the relationship 'A of B,' in which A is a phonologically modified noun (in the construct state), and B is a phonologically unmodified noun (the absolute state).	- Some construct chains occur within prepositional phrases	- A waw conjunction can join units of all sizes. Phrase level waw join units at the word or phrase level (i.e., below the level of the clause).	- Definite articles tell you something about the identifiability or inclusiveness about the word it is attached to - כֹּל is a quantifier that tells you about the scope of a word it is attached to

Expanded paraphrase

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• Close but Clear (CBC) translation
• Assumptions which provide the most salient background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences

References

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