Psalm 92/Grammar
About the Grammar Layer
The grammar layer visually represents the grammar and syntax of each clause. It also displays alternative interpretations of the grammar. (For more information, click "Expand" to the right.)
The grammatical diagram provides a way to visualise how different parts of a sentence work together. It represents the “surface-level” grammar, or morphosyntax, of a sentence. Morphosyntax includes both the form of words (morphology) and their placement in the sentence (syntax). This approach to visualising the text, based on the Reed-Kellogg diagramming method, places the grammatical subject in one slot, the verb in another slot, and modifiers and connectives in other slots.
For a detailed description of our method, see the Grammar Creator Guidelines.
Grammar Visuals for Psalm 92
V. 1
Preferred
alternative
SimpleGrammar
Fragment
Nominal
ConstructChain
noun: מִזְמוֹר a psalm
Nominal
noun: שִׁיר a song
Adjectival
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: לְ for
Object
Nominal
ConstructChain
noun: יוֹם day
Nominal
article: הַ the
noun: שַּׁבָּת Sabbath
Alternative construct chain
v. 1 – The alternative construct chain is represented by the genitive found in the LXX (Ψαλμὸς ᾠδῆς "A psalm of a song"), Symmachus (ᾆσμα ψαλμοῦ "a song of a psalm," from Syro-Hex. ܙܡܝܪܬܐ ܕܡܙܡܘܪܐ), and Jerome, both Gall. and Hebr. (Psalmus cantici "a psalm of a song"), which does not seem to be followed, however, by modern translations.
Targum Psalm's conjunction (שבחא ושירא) has not been represented as an alternative, though it is followed by the DHH ("Salmo y cántico para el sábado").
V. 2
וּלְזַמֵּ֖ר לְשִׁמְךָ֣ עֶלְיֽוֹן׃
Preferred
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 2]
Fragment
ClauseCluster
Clause
Subject
Nominal
Clause
Predicate
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: לְ to
Object
Clause
Predicate <gloss="praise YHWH">
verb-infinitive: הֹדוֹת praise
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: לַ to
Object
noun: יהוָה YHWH
Predicate
verb: is
Complement
adjective: טוֹב right
Conjunction
conjunction: וּ and
Clause
Subject
Nominal
Clause
Predicate
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: לְ to
Object
Clause
Predicate
verb-infinitive: זַמֵּר sing praise
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: לְ to
Object
Nominal <gloss="your name">
ConstructChain
noun: שִׁמְ name
suffix-pronoun: ךָ you
Predicate <status="elided">
verb: is
Complement
adjective: טוֹב right
Fragment
Vocative
noun: עֶלְיוֹן Most High
Note for vv. 2-4
vv. 2-4 – Though not reflected in the MT, the LXX distinguishes between the pairs of infinitives in vv. 2-3. In the former, they are the subject of the complement טוֹב, while in the latter, they are read as the purpose of the praise in v. 2. The difficulties arise, therefore, with the meaning of the PPs in v. 4.
LXX (vv. 2-4): Ἀγαθὸν τὸ ἐξομολογεῖσθαι τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ ψάλλειν τῷ ὀνόματί σου, ὕψιστε, τοῦ ἀναγγέλλειν τὸ πρωὶ τὸ ἔλεός σου καὶ τὴν ἀλήθειάν σου κατὰ νύκτα ἐν δεκαχόρδῳ ψαλτηρίῳ μετʼ ᾠδῆς ἐν κιθάρᾳ.
"It is good to acknowledge the Lord and to make music to your name, O Most High, in order to declare your mercy in the morning and your truth every night on a ten-stringed harp, with an ode on a lyre" (NETS)
Note that the Syr. provides a full sentence (without elision) for this verse: ܐܢܐ ܐܩܘܫ ܒܟܢܪܐ ܕܥܣܪ ܘܐܩܘܫ ܒܩܝܬܪܐ ("I will play on a harp of ten strings; I will play on a lyre"; Taylor 2020, 383).
V. 3
וֶ֝אֱמֽוּנָתְךָ֗ בַּלֵּילֽוֹת׃
Preferred
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 3]
Fragment
ClauseCluster
Clause
Subject
Nominal
Clause
Predicate
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: לְ to
Object
Clause
Predicate
verb-infinitive: הַגִּיד declare
Object
Nominal <gloss="your loyalty">
ConstructChain
noun: חַסְדֶּ loyalty
suffix-pronoun: ךָ you
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בַּ in
Object
article: ה the <status="elided">
noun: בֹּקֶר morning
Adverbial <status="alternative">
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: עֲלֵי with
Object
noun: עָשׂוֹר a ten-stringed instrument
Conjunction
conjunction: וַ and
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: עֲלֵי with
Object
noun: נָבֶל a harp
Adverbial <status="alternative">
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: עֲלֵי with
Object
noun: הִגָּיוֹן a soft melody
Adjectival
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ on
Object
noun: כִנּוֹר a lyre
Predicate
verb: is <status="elided">
Complement
adjective: טוֹב right <status="elided">
Conjunction
conjunction: וֶ and
Clause
Subject
Nominal
Clause
Predicate
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: לְ to <status="elided">
Object
Clause
Predicate
verb-infinitive: הַגִּיד declare <status="elided">
Object
Nominal <gloss="your faithfulness">
ConstructChain
noun: אֱמוּנָתְ faithfulness
suffix-pronoun: ךָ you
Adverbial <gloss="at night">
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בַּ in
Object
article: ה the <status="elided">
noun: לֵּילוֹת night
Predicate
verb: is <status="elided">
Complement
adjective: טוֹב right <status="elided">
V. 4
עֲלֵ֖י הִגָּי֣וֹן בְּכִנּֽוֹר׃
Preferred
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 4]
Fragment
Clause
Subject
Clause
Predicate
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: לְ to <status="elided">
Object
Clause
Predicate
verb-infinitive: הֹדוֹת praise <status="elided">
Adverbial <status="elided">
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: לַ to
Object
noun: יהוָה YHWH
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: עֲלֵי with
Object
noun: עָשׂוֹר a ten-stringed instrument
Conjunction
conjunction: וַ and
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: עֲלֵי with
Object
noun: נָבֶל a harp
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: עֲלֵי with
Object
noun: הִגָּיוֹן a soft melody
Adjectival
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ on
Object
noun: כִנּוֹר a lyre
Predicate
verb: is <status="elided">
Complement
adjective: טוֹב right <status="elided">
SubordinateClause <status="alternative">
Conjunction
conjunction: כִּי because
Clause
Predicate
verb: שִׂמַּחְתַּ you have made rejoice
Object
suffix-pronoun: נִי me
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ by
Object
Nominal <gloss="your action">
ConstructChain
noun: פָעֳלֶ action
suffix-pronoun: ךָ you
V. 5
בְּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֖י יָדֶ֣יךָ אֲרַנֵּֽן׃
Preferred
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 5]
Fragment
particle: כִּי for
Fragment
Vocative
noun: יְהוָה YHWH
Fragment
Clause
Predicate
verb: שִׂמַּחְתַּ you have made rejoice
Object
suffix-pronoun: נִי me
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ by
Object
Nominal <gloss="your action">
ConstructChain
noun: פָעֳלֶ action
suffix-pronoun: ךָ you
Fragment
Clause
Predicate
verb: אֲרַנֵּן I shout for joy >> rejoice
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ in
Object
Nominal <gloss="the work of your hands">
ConstructChain
noun: מַעֲשֵׂה work <status="emendation">
noun: מַעֲשֵׂי works <status="alternative">
ConstructChain
noun: יָדֶי hands
suffix-pronoun: ךָ you
Note for V. 5
v. 5 – There is significant variation between the singular and plural interpretation of both פעלך and מעשׂי/ה.
Beginning with פעלך, since it is a pausal form (Revell 2004), it is most plausible that the plural readings have crept in because of the long vowel. See, e.g., the Syr. ܒܥܒ̈ܕܝܟ "your works," as well as the plene yod פעליך in many medieval Hebrew manuscripts (see VTH, 388), including the Babylonian manuscripts Neubauer 2484; BL Or 1477 and JTS 631. The preferred singular is attested in the LXX's ἐν τῷ ποιήματί σου, Jerome's in opere tuo, and TgPs's בעובדך.
On the מעשה/מעשי interchange, the he (and thus singular) is attested in the Syr. ܒܥܒܕ "work", as well as 1Q10, 4Q84, the majority of the attested Babylonian tradition (Berlin QU 680; JTS 611; JTS 631; Neubauer 2484; and BL Or 1477), and a number of other medieval manuscripts (VTH, 388). It could be posited, however, that the yod found in the Tiberian MT is assimilated to the following yod in יָדֶ֣יךָ, such that the diversely-attested and less-expected reading מַעֲשֵׂה has been preferred.
Note also that
- there is a strong tendency in the tradition to change the singular to plural (see, e.g., 11Q5, which does this systematically throughout the psalter), and
- the plural מַעֲשֶׂ֣יךָ in v. 6 may also have influenced the reading of the plural here.
V. 6
מְ֝אֹ֗ד עָמְק֥וּ מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽיךָ׃
Preferred
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 6]
Fragment
Clause
Subject
Nominal <gloss="your works">
ConstructChain
noun: מַעֲשֶׂי works
suffix-pronoun: ךָ you
Predicate
verb: גָּדְלוּ great
adverb: מַה how
Fragment
Vocative
noun: יְהוָה YHWH
Fragment
Clause
Subject
Nominal <gloss="your plans">
ConstructChain
noun: מַחְשְׁבֹתֶי plans
suffix-pronoun: ךָ you
Predicate
verb: עָמְקוּ are deep
adverb: מְאֹד so
Note for V. 6
v. 6 – The exclamative מָה ("How...!") could be considered elided in the second clause, as read by the CEB: How magnificent are your works, Lord, how profound your thoughts! (cf. the DHH, EÜ, NIV, ZÜR). A second overt מָה is not attested in any Hebrew manuscripts or ancient versions and has not been represented as an alternative in light of the constituent order of the second clause (which is not verb-initial, which would be expected with an elided constituent such as an exclamative marker governing the entire clause; see Miller 2007).
V. 7
וּ֝כְסִ֗יל לֹא־יָבִ֥ין אֶת־זֹֽאת׃
Preferred
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 7]
Fragment
ClauseCluster
Clause
Subject
Nominal <gloss="stupid people">
ConstructChain
noun: אִישׁ man
noun: בַּעַר stupid man
adjective: בַּעַר stupid <status="alternative">
Predicate
verb: יֵדָע know
adverb: לֹא not
Object <status="elided">
particle: אֶת
noun: זֹאת this
Conjunction
conjunction: וּ and
Clause
Subject
Nominal
adjective: כְסִיל a fool >> fools
Predicate
verb: יָבִין understand
adverb: לֹא not
Object
Nominal
particle: אֶת
noun: זֹאת this
Note for V. 7
v. 7 – The elision of the object in the first clause has been included in light of the tight parallelism between the two lines. In both cases אֶת־זֹֽאת has been understood as cataphoric, i.e., forward pointing. (Note that the LXX takes the liberty of rendering plural ταῦτα "these things," cf. the Gallican Psalter's haec). For the elision of אֶת־זֹֽאת see Ḥakham's (1979, 181) paraphrase of the verse: איש בער וכסיל לא ידע את זאת ולא יבין את זאת.
The construct dependent בַּ֭עַר has been offered alternatively as an adjective (as the ancient versions). The attestation of this lexeme as a noun is quite well-supported, however, by other texts. See the nominal function of בַּעַר most clearly in Ps. 49.11 (כִּ֤י יִרְאֶ֨ה׀ חֲכָ֘מִ֤ים יָמ֗וּתוּ יַ֤חַד כְּסִ֣יל וָבַ֣עַר יֹאבֵ֑דוּ); quite plausibly in Ps 73.22 (וַאֲנִי־בַ֭עַר) and Prov. 12.1 (אֹהֵ֣ב מ֖וּסָר אֹ֣הֵֽב דָּ֑עַת וְשֹׂנֵ֖א תוֹכַ֣חַת בָּֽעַר). Prov. 30.2 (כִּ֤י בַ֣עַר אָנֹכִ֣י מֵאִ֑ישׁ), however, seems to favor a predicative adjectival reading, while Ps 94:8 draws upon the ptc. בֹּעֲרִ֣ים, rather than, presumably, an available mpl nominal form.
Note that 4Q84 reads איש בער ולא ידע "a man is stupid and/so that he does not know."
GKC (§136a) notes that the primary distinction between proximal and distal ("near" and "far") demonstratives is that the proximal demonstrative “almost always points out a (new) person or thing present, while הוּא (like is, ille, αὐτός, ἐκεῖνος) refers to a person or thing already mentioned or known.” Nevertheless, a clear-cut semantic distinction between proximal and distal demonstratives is elusive, so the boundaries on their respective discourse functions is equally fuzzy in this regard. There is typological evidence, however, for a prototypical anaphoric/cataphoric division between proximal and distal demonstrative, as in "I can’t believe he said that" vs. "I’ll tell you this: it’s going to be tough" (Næss et al. (2020, 7-8)); cf. זֶ֥ה הַדָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּעֲשׂ֑וּ (2 Chr 23:4; "This is what you will do…"); וְזֶ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־יִקְרָא־לָ֖הּ יְהוָ֥ה׀ צִדְקֵֽנוּ (Jer 33:16; "This is what it shall be called: the Lord is our righteousness").
Vv. 8-9
וַ֭יָּצִיצוּ כָּל־פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָ֑וֶן
לְהִשָּֽׁמְדָ֥ם עֲדֵי־עַֽד׃
וְאַתָּ֥ה מָר֗וֹם לְעֹלָ֥ם יְהוָֽה׃
כִּ֤י הִנֵּ֪ה אֹיְבֶ֡יךָ ׀ יְֽהוָ֗ה
Preferred
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [vv. 8-9]
Fragment
ClauseCluster
Clause
Subject
pronoun: זֹאת this <status="elided">
Predicate
Predicate
verb: is <status="elided">
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בִּ when
Object
ClauseCluster
Clause
Subject <located="after infinitive construct">
Predicate
ConstructChain
verb-infinitive: פְרֹחַ flourish
Nominal
adjective: רְשָׁעִים wicked people
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: כְּמוֹ like
Object
noun: עֵשֶׂב a green plant
Conjunction
conjunction: וַ and
Clause
Subject
ConstructChain
Nominal
quantifier: כָּל all >> any
verb-participle: פֹּעֲלֵי doers
noun: אָוֶן evil
Predicate
verb: יָּצִיצוּ blossom >> prosper
Complement
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: לְ for
Object
ClauseCluster
Clause
Subject <located="after infinitive construct">
Predicate
ConstructChain
verb-infinitive: הִשָּׁמְדָ be destroyed
suffix-pronoun: ם them
Adverbial <gloss="forever">
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: עֲדֵי until
Object
noun: עַד forever
Conjunction
conjunction: וְ but
Clause
Subject
pronoun: אַתָּה you
Predicate
verb: are
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: לְ for
Object
noun: עֹלָם ever
Complement
Adverbial <gloss="on high">
noun: מָרוֹם high
Fragment
Vocative
noun: יְהוָה YHWH
Note for V. 9
v. 9 – The status of מָר֗וֹם has been interpreted either as a divine epithet (≈ exalted one)[1] or as an adverbial (preferred)[2]. The lexicons recognize both functions of מָר֗וֹם as "high, meaning lofty" (HALOT) and "height> divine title, "Exalted One" (DCH). The ancient versions, likewise, exhibit the same diversity.[3]
In light of the similar constructions found in 2 Kgs 19:22 (= Isa 37:23), Isa 40:26, and other instances with the verb שׁכן, "to dwell," we have favored the adverbial reading of the nominal here.
V. 10
יִ֝תְפָּרְד֗וּ כָּל־פֹּ֥עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃
Preferred
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 10]
Fragment
particle: כִּי for
Fragment
particle: הִנֵּה look
Fragment
Clause
Subject
Nominal <gloss="your enemies">
ConstructChain
noun: אֹיְבֶי enemies
suffix-pronoun: ךָ you
Predicate <status="elided">
verb: יֹאבֵדוּ will perish
Fragment
Vocative
noun: יְהוָה YHWH
Fragment
particle: כִּי for
Fragment
particle: הִנֵּה look
Fragment
Clause
Subject
Nominal <gloss="your enemies">
ConstructChain
noun: אֹיְבֶי enemies
suffix-pronoun: ךָ you
Predicate
verb: יֹאבֵדוּ will perish
Fragment
Clause
Subject
ConstructChain
Nominal <gloss="all evildoers">
quantifier: כָּל all
verb-participle: פֹּעֲלֵי doers
noun: אָוֶן evil
Predicate
verb: יִתְפָּרְדוּ will be scattered
Note for V. 10a
v. 10a – Note that the first line, backwards elided according to the MT, is absent in Vaticanus and Alexandrinus. See further Rahlfs' apparatus (1931, 242).
Alternative
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 10b-c alternative]
Fragment <status="alternative">
ClauseCluster
Clause
Subject
Nominal <gloss="your enemies">
ConstructChain
noun: אֹיְבֶי enemies
suffix-pronoun: ךָ you
Predicate
verb: יֹאבֵדוּ will perish
Conjunction
conjunction: וְ and <status="emendation">
Clause
Subject
ConstructChain
Nominal <gloss="all evildoers">
quantifier: כָּל all
verb-participle: פֹּעֲלֵי doers
noun: אָוֶן evil
Predicate
verb: יִתְפָּרְדוּ will be scattered
Note for V. 10bc
v. 10b-c – The waw is present in all the ancient versions, Kennicott 38, 42(?), 73, and JTS 611 (read with a shewa in the latter).
V. 11
בְּלֹתִי כְּשֶׁמֶן רַעֲנָֽן׃
Preferred
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 11]
Fragment
particle: וַ and
Fragment
Clause
Predicate
verb: תָּרֶם you will lift up
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: כִּ like
Object
noun: רְאֵים a wild ox
Object
Nominal <gloss="my horn">
ConstructChain
noun: קַרְנִ horn
suffix-pronoun: י me
Alternative ("horn" elided)
SimpleGrammar
Fragment <status="alternative">
ClauseCluster
Clause
Predicate
verb: בַּלֹּתִי I anointed
Object <status="elided">
Nominal <gloss="my horn">
ConstructChain
noun: קַרְנ horn
suffix-pronoun: ִי me
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ with
Object
noun: שֶׁמֶן oil
adjective: רַעֲנָן fresh
alternative
SimpleGrammar
Fragment <status="alternative">
Clause
Subject
Nominal <gloss="my horn">
ConstructChain
noun: קַרְנִ horn
suffix-pronoun: י me
Predicate
verb: תָּרֹם is lifted up <status="alternative revocalization">
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: כִּ like
Object
noun: רְאֵים a wild ox
Preferred
SimpleGrammar
Fragment
Clause
Subject
Clause
Subject <located="after infinitive construct">
Predicate
ConstructChain
verb-infinitive: בְּלֹת old age<status="revocalization">
suffix-pronoun: ִי me
Predicate
verb: will be
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: כְּ like <status="emendation">
Object
noun: שֶׁמֶן oil
Complement
Adjectival
adjective: רַעֲנָן fresh
Note for V. 11b
v. 11b – The preferred reading of v. 11b involves revocalizing בַּ֝לֹּתִ֗י as an infinitive construct, בְּלֹתִי, from בלה, "my old age" (BDB), as found in the LXX, Symmachus and both of Jerome's translations. The emended prepositional phrase, as found in Symmachus, is also preferred over the MT's בְּ, in light of the similes found elsewhere (see, e.g., Ps 52:10), the previous line, and the easy בְּ/כְּ interchange (cf. Aquila's ὡς ἀτμὸν for the MT's בַּהֶ֥בֶל in Ps 78:33; the LXX and Syr.' ἐν τῇ γῇ and ܒܐܪܥܐ for the MT's כְּ֝אֶ֗רֶץ in Ps 78:69; and TgPss' היך בנפשיה for בְּנַפְשׁ֑וֹ in Ps 105:22). Due to the fragmentary nature of Symmachus (ἡ παλαίωσίς μου ὡς ἐλαία εὐθαλής), it may be read as a verbless clause (requiring also the revocalization of the infinitive—see above—and the emendation of בְּ with כְּ). We have followed this verbless clause as our preferred syntax. Furthermore, we have preferred to read רַעֲנָֽן as the adjectival complement of the copula, "to be," rather than modifying שֶׁמֶן, which never occurs elsewhere in the Bible. For a full discussion of the issue, see the exegetical issue The_Grammar_and_Meaning_of_Ps_92:11b.
alternative (LXX, Jerome)
SimpleGrammar
Fragment <status="alternative">
Clause
Predicate
verb: תָּרֶם you will lift up <status="elided">
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: כְּ like <status="emendation">
Object
noun: שֶׁמֶן oil
adjective: רַעֲנָן fresh
Adverbial <status="alternative">
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ with
Object
noun: שֶׁמֶן oil
adjective: רַעֲנָן fresh
Object
Clause
Subject <located="after infinitive construct">
Predicate
ConstructChain
verb-infinitive: בְּלֹת old age <status="revocalization">
suffix-pronoun: ִי me
Alternative (MT)
SimpleGrammar
Fragment <status="alternative">
ClauseCluster
Clause
Predicate
verb: בַּלֹּתִי I am anointed
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ with
Object
noun: שֶׁמֶן oil
adjective: רַעֲנָן fresh
Alternative (TgPs, Syr)
SimpleGrammar
Fragment <status="alternative">
Clause
Subject
Predicate
verb: בַּלֹּתַ you anointed <status="emendation">
Object
suffix-pronoun: נִי me <status="emendation">
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ with
Object
noun: שֶׁמֶן oil
adjective: רַעֲנָן fresh
V. 11b
Preferred
SimpleGrammar
Fragment
Clause
Subject
Clause
Subject <located="after infinitive construct">
Predicate
ConstructChain
verb-infinitive: בְּלֹת old age<status="revocalization">
suffix-pronoun: ִי me
Predicate
verb: will be
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: כְּ like <status="emendation">
Object
noun: שֶׁמֶן oil
Complement
Adjectival
adjective: רַעֲנָן fresh
Note for V. 11b
v. 11b – The preferred reading of v. 11b involves revocalizing בַּ֝לֹּתִ֗י as an infinitive construct, בְּלֹתִי, from בלה, "my old age" (BDB), as found in the LXX, Symmachus and both of Jerome's translations. The emended prepositional phrase, as found in Symmachus, is also preferred over the MT's בְּ, in light of the similes found elsewhere (see, e.g., Ps 52:10), the previous line, and the easy בְּ/כְּ interchange (cf. Aquila's ὡς ἀτμὸν for the MT's בַּהֶ֥בֶל in Ps 78:33; the LXX and Syr.' ἐν τῇ γῇ and ܒܐܪܥܐ for the MT's כְּ֝אֶ֗רֶץ in Ps 78:69; and TgPss' היך בנפשיה for בְּנַפְשׁ֑וֹ in Ps 105:22). Due to the fragmentary nature of Symmachus (ἡ παλαίωσίς μου ὡς ἐλαία εὐθαλής), it may be read as a verbless clause (requiring also the revocalization of the infinitive—see above—and the emendation of בְּ with כְּ). We have followed this verbless clause as our preferred syntax. Furthermore, we have preferred to read רַעֲנָֽן as the adjectival complement of the copula, "to be," rather than modifying שֶׁמֶן, which never occurs elsewhere in the Bible. For a full discussion of the issue, see the exegetical issue The_Grammar_and_Meaning_of_Ps_92:11b.
Alternative (MT)
SimpleGrammar
Fragment <status="alternative">
ClauseCluster
Clause
Predicate
verb: בַּלֹּתִי I am anointed
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ with
Object
noun: שֶׁמֶן oil
adjective: רַעֲנָן fresh
alternative (LXX, Jerome)
SimpleGrammar
Fragment <status="alternative">
Clause
Predicate
verb: תָּרֶם you will lift up <status="elided">
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: כְּ like <status="emendation">
Object
noun: שֶׁמֶן oil
adjective: רַעֲנָן fresh
Adverbial <status="alternative">
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ with
Object
noun: שֶׁמֶן oil
adjective: רַעֲנָן fresh
Object
Clause
Subject <located="after infinitive construct">
Predicate
ConstructChain
verb-infinitive: בְּלֹת old age <status="revocalization">
suffix-pronoun: ִי me
Alternative (TgPs, Syr)
SimpleGrammar
Fragment <status="alternative">
Clause
Subject
Predicate
verb: בַּלֹּתַ you anointed <status="emendation">
Object
suffix-pronoun: נִי me <status="emendation">
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ with
Object
noun: שֶׁמֶן oil
adjective: רַעֲנָן fresh
V. 12
בַּקָּמִ֖ים עָלַ֥י מְרֵעִ֗ים
תִּשְׁמַ֥עְנָה אָזְנָֽי׃
Preferred
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 12]
Fragment
particle: וַ and
Fragment
Clause
Subject
Nominal <gloss="my eyes">
ConstructChain
noun: עֵינִ eye >> eyes
suffix-pronoun: י me
Predicate
verb: תַּבֵּט will look
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ upon
Object
ConstructChain
noun: שׁוּר enemies
suffix-pronoun: ָי me
Fragment
Clause
Subject
Nominal <gloss="my ears">
ConstructChain
noun: אָזְנ ears
suffix-pronoun: ָ י me
Subject <status="alternative">
ConstructChain
noun: אָזְנ ear
suffix-pronoun: ִ י me <status="revocalization">
Predicate
verb: תִּשְׁמַעְנָה will hear
verb: שָׁמְעָה heard <status="alternative emendation">
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בַּ
Object
Apposition
Nominal
article: ה those <status="elided">
Clause
Predicate
verb-participle: קָּמִים rising up
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: עָל against
Object
suffix-pronoun: ָי me
Adverbial <status="alternative">
verb-participle: מְרֵעִים acting wickedly
Nominal
verb-participle: מְרֵעִים wicked people
Note for V. 12b
v. 12b – The alternative adverbial reading of מְרֵעִ֗ים represents Targum Psalms' infinitive לאבאשא. The apposition (restrictive relative) is found in the other ancient versions, and discussed in GKC §132b.
The alternative qatal 3fs verb שמעה is found in 1Q10, presumably read with the singular ear (אָזְנִי), and in parallel with the singular עֵינִ֗י in the A-line.
V. 13
כְּאֶ֖רֶז בַּלְּבָנ֣וֹן יִשְׂגֶּֽה׃
Preferred
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 13]
Fragment
Clause
Subject
Nominal
adjective: צַדִּיק the righteous
Predicate
verb: יִפְרָח will flourish
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: כַּ like
Object
article: ה the <status="elided">
noun: תָּמָר palm tree
Fragment
Clause
Predicate
verb: יִשְׂגֶּה he will grow
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: כְּ like
Object
noun: אֶרֶז a cedar tree
Adjectival
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בַּ in
Object
article: ה <status="elided">
noun: לְּבָנוֹן Lebanon
V. 14
בְּחַצְר֖וֹת אֱלֹהֵ֣ינוּ יַפְרִֽיחוּ׃
Preferred
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 14]
Fragment
Clause
Subject
adjective: צַדִּיקִים righteous people <status="elided">
Predicate
verb: יִהְיוּ will be <status="elided">
Complement
Nominal
Adjectival
verb-participle: שְׁתוּלִים transplanted
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ in
Object
Nominal <gloss="the house of YHWH">
ConstructChain
noun: בֵית house
noun: יְהוָה YHWH
Fragment
Clause
Predicate
verb: יַפְרִיחוּ they will flourish
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ in
Object
Nominal <gloss="the courtyards of our God">
ConstructChain
noun: חַצְרוֹת courtyards
ConstructChain
noun: אֱלֹהֵי God
suffix-pronoun: נוּ us
Note for V. 14
The preferred two separate clauses are found in the ESV, DHH, RVC. See the symmetry of the two locative prepositional phrases, which indicate the status of שְׁ֭תוּלִים בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה as an independent clause. For a similar, future referring verbless clause with both subject and copula elided, see Ps 1:4b.
For a similar shift from singular צָדִּיק to collective reference, see Job 36:7 – לֹֽא־יִגְרַ֥ע מִצַּדִּ֗יק עֵ֫ינָ֥יו וְאֶת־מְלָכִ֥ים לַכִּסֵּ֑א וַיֹּשִׁיבֵ֥ם לָ֝נֶ֗צַח וַיִּגְבָּֽהוּ (cf. Ps 78:1-4). Alternatively, for lack of a subject, TgPs provides בנוי ("his sons").
alternative 2
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 14 alt. #2]
Fragment <status="alternative">
Clause
Subject
Nominal
Adjectival
verb-participle: שְׁתוּלִים those transplanted
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ in
Object
Nominal <gloss="the house of YHWH">
ConstructChain
noun: בֵית house
noun: יְהוָה YHWH
Predicate
verb: יַפְרִיחוּ will flourish
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ in
Object
Nominal <gloss="the courtyards of our God">
ConstructChain
noun: חַצְרוֹת courtyards
ConstructChain
noun: אֱלֹהֵי God
suffix-pronoun: נוּ us
Note for V. 14
Alternative interpretations of the grammar include reading שְׁ֭תוּלִים בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה either as an adverbial of manner or as a subject nominal.
• The adverbial reading of שְׁ֭תוּלִים בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה, found in the CSB, NASB, NET, NIV, NJPS, SG21, TOB (read as a singular participle in both of these French versions) and supported by GKC §118p.
• The subject reading is provided by the Syr. headless relative clause ܕܢܨܝܒܝܢ ܒܒܝܬܗ ܕܡܪܝܐ ("those who are planted in the house of the Lord," Taylor 2020, 385) and the nominative πεφυτευμένοι in the LXX's πεφυτευμένοι ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ κυρίου (cf. also the CEB, KJV, and the German translations).
V. 15a
Preferred
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 15a]
Fragment
Clause
Predicate
verb: יְנוּבוּן they will bear fruit >> they will thrive
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ in
Object
noun: שֵׂיבָה old age
adverb: עוֹד still
Note for V. 15a
v. 15a – Note that an addition of the adjective טובה is found in 4Q84's עוד ינבון בשיבה טובה and that the LXX reads דְּשֵׁנִ֖ים as modifying בְּשֵׂיבָ֑ה (ἔτι πληθυνθήσονται ἐν γήρει πίονι), requiring the feminine singular form דְּשֵׁנָה, neither of which are present in any (other) Hebrew manuscript evidence.
V. 15b-16
צ֝וּרִ֗י וְֽלֹא־עַוְלָ֥תָה בּֽוֹ׃
Preferred
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [vv. 15b-16]
Fragment
Clause
Predicate
verb: יִהְיוּ they will be
Complement
Adjectival
adjective: דְּשֵׁנִים fat >> vigorous
Conjunction
conjunction: וְ and
adjective: רַעֲנַנִּים fresh
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: לְ in order that
Object
Clause
Predicate
verb-infinitive: הַגִּיד people declare
Object
ComplementClause
Conjunction
conjunction: כִּי that
ClauseCluster
Clause
Subject
Apposition
Nominal <gloss="my rock">
ConstructChain
noun: צוּר rock
suffix-pronoun: ִ י me
noun: יְהוָה YHWH
Predicate
verb: is
Complement
adjective: יָשָׁר upright >> fair
Conjunction
conjunction: וְ and
Clause
Subject
noun: עַוְלָתָה injustice <status="emendation">
Predicate
verb: there is
adverb: לֹא not
Complement
Adjectival
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בּ in
Object
suffix-pronoun: וֹ him
Note for V. 15b-16
v. 16a – The Syr ܘܢܚܘܘܢ ܕܬܪܝܨ ܗܘ ܡܪܝܐ ܥܫܝܢܐ ܘܠܝܬ ܒܗ ܥܘܠܐ ("They will declare that the Lord is upright; he is strong, and there is no iniquity in him" Taylor 2020, 385) is best understood as a paraphrase in the case of both the finite ܘܢܚܘܘܢ for the MT's infinitive לְ֭הַגִּיד and the adj. ܘܢܚܘܘܢ for the appositive צ֝וּרִ֗י. (See also the REB's finite "They declare that the Lord is just," missing the semantic connection of purpose from the preceding clause.)
Other translations, such as the NJPS ("attesting that the LORD is upright," cf. the DHH, NIV, TOB) and Jerome's and Symmachus' participles (adnuntiantes quia rectus Dominus; ἀπαγγέλλοντες ὅτι ὀρθὸς κύριος) are also cautious with the more natural purpose reading (as the CEB's "in order to proclaim," cf. the CSB, ELB, ESV, KJV, NASB, RVA, SG21, ZÜR). The NET's result ("So they proclaim...") is also plausible. Nevertheless, in light of the לְהַגִיד inclusio with v. 3, we have preferred an impersonal reading of the infinitive (cf. Gen 33:10; Ps 42:4; 119:4; 2 Chr 35:16; see Notarius and Atkinson, forthcoming).
v. 16b – As for the qere/ketiv question (עלתה vocalized as עְָלֲתָה), the dozens of manuscripts cited in Kennicott (389) with the consonantal עולתה removes any doubt about the intended text.[4]
Despite the temptation to read as a topic-comment structure with עַוְלָתָה as the subject ("injustice is not in him"), the presentational is preferred, explicitly followed by the Peshitta's use of ܠܝܬ and לית in the Peshitta (ܘܠܝܬ ܒܗ ܥܘܠܐ; "there is no iniquity in him," Taylor 2020, 385) and Targum Psalms (לית עוולתא ביה; "there is no unrighteousness in him," Stec 2004, 177). Likewise, neither the LXX nor Jerome read ἀδικία or iniquitas as the subject: although presentational copular clauses and topic-comment constructions are morphosyntactically ambiguous in Greek and Latin, the post-verbal position in both instances here points to the presentational reading. For another existential with לֹֹא (in place of the expected אֵין), see Job 29:12 (וְֽלֹא־עֹזֵ֥ר לֽוֹ).
Note for V. 15b-16
v. 16a – The Syr ܘܢܚܘܘܢ ܕܬܪܝܨ ܗܘ ܡܪܝܐ ܥܫܝܢܐ ܘܠܝܬ ܒܗ ܥܘܠܐ ("They will declare that the Lord is upright; he is strong, and there is no iniquity in him" Taylor 2020, 385) is best understood as a paraphrase in the case of both the finite ܘܢܚܘܘܢ for the MT's infinitive לְ֭הַגִּיד and the adj. ܘܢܚܘܘܢ for the appositive צ֝וּרִ֗י. (See also the REB's finite "They declare that the Lord is just," missing the semantic connection of purpose from the preceding clause.)
Other translations, such as the NJPS ("attesting that the LORD is upright," cf. the DHH, NIV, TOB) and Jerome's and Symmachus' participles (adnuntiantes quia rectus Dominus; ἀπαγγέλλοντες ὅτι ὀρθὸς κύριος) are also cautious with the more natural purpose reading (as the CEB's "in order to proclaim," cf. the CSB, ELB, ESV, KJV, NASB, RVA, SG21, ZÜR). The NET's result ("So they proclaim...") is also plausible. Nevertheless, in light of the לְהַגִיד inclusio with v. 3, we have preferred an impersonal reading of the infinitive (cf. Gen 33:10; Ps 42:4; 119:4; 2 Chr 35:16; see Notarius and Atkinson, forthcoming).
v. 16b – As for the qere/ketiv question (עלתה vocalized as עְָלֲתָה), the dozens of manuscripts cited in Kennicott (389) with the consonantal עולתה removes any doubt about the intended text.[5]
Despite the temptation to read as a topic-comment structure with עַוְלָתָה as the subject ("injustice is not in him"), the presentational is preferred, explicitly followed by the Peshitta's use of ܠܝܬ and לית in the Peshitta (ܘܠܝܬ ܒܗ ܥܘܠܐ; "there is no iniquity in him," Taylor 2020, 385) and Targum Psalms (לית עוולתא ביה; "there is no unrighteousness in him," Stec 2004, 177). Likewise, neither the LXX nor Jerome read ἀδικία or iniquitas as the subject: although presentational copular clauses and topic-comment constructions are morphosyntactically ambiguous in Greek and Latin, the post-verbal position in both instances here points to the presentational reading. For another existential with לֹֹא (in place of the expected אֵין), see Job 29:12 (וְֽלֹא־עֹזֵ֥ר לֽוֹ).
- ↑ For support of reading מָר֗וֹם as a divine epithet (Ibn Ezra; Tate 1998, 462, cf. KJV), see the מְר֥וֹם עַם־הָאָֽרֶץ in Isa 24:4 (though only מרום הארץ in 1QIsaª). One argument in favor here is the possibility of employing the polal participle (מְרוֹמַם) to disambiguate the first (preferred) interpretation.
- ↑ For support of the nominal adverb reading (Briggs & Briggs 1906-1907, 285; Brueggemann & Bellinger 2014, 398; Ḥakham 1979, 181; Tanner & Jacobson 2014, 703; cf. CSB, ESV, NASB, NIV), see the prepositional-less מָרוֹם in 2 Kgs 19:22 (= Isa 37:23) and Isa 40:26. For the complement of a שׁכן verb phrase, see Isa 33:5, 57:15, and the suffixed בִּמְרוֹמָֽיו in Job 25:2. See also the similar co-text of Ps 97:9 – כִּֽי־אַתָּ֤ה יְהוָ֗ה עֶלְי֥וֹן עַל־כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ מְאֹ֥ד נַ֝עֲלֵ֗יתָ עַל־כָּל־אֱלֹהִֽים.
- ↑ • σὺ δὲ ὕψιστος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, κύριε· (LXX; 'exalted one') = tu autem Altissimus in aeternum Domine (Gall.) = tu autem Excelsus in aeternum Domine (Hebr.; differing from the rendering of עֶלְיֽוֹן in v. 2 as 'Altissime') • ואת רמא (TgPs; adj. high) • ܘܐܢܬ ܡܪܝܐ ܡܪܝܡܐ ܠܥܠܡ (adj. high, exalted' ;CAL) • The Christian Palestinian Aramaic version alternates from the emphatic form ܡܪܘܡܡܐ for עֶלְיֽוֹן in v. 2 to the absolute ܡܪܘܡܡ here, though both nominal.
- ↑ On the form עַוְלָתָה: The waw appears to have merged with a vocalic long "o" on occasion, as Isa 61:8's בְּעוֹלָ֑ה for עַוְלָה and only וְ֝עֹלָ֗תָה in Job 5:16 (as the ketiv here, but without any qere; see also the plural עוֹלֹ֪ת in Pss 58:3; 64:7). On the presence of תָה–֫ with "the loss of the tone on the final syllable" as "an old accusative of direction or intention," see the discussion in GKC §90g (cf. צָרָ֫תָה in Ps 120:1; עֵיפָ֫תָה in Job 10:22 and עֶזְרָ֫תָה in Ps 44:7). For other instances with the vocalization of our preferred reading, see Ezek 28:15; Hos 10:13 and Ps 125:3.
- ↑ On the form עַוְלָתָה: The waw appears to have merged with a vocalic long "o" on occasion, as Isa 61:8's בְּעוֹלָ֑ה for עַוְלָה and only וְ֝עֹלָ֗תָה in Job 5:16 (as the ketiv here, but without any qere; see also the plural עוֹלֹ֪ת in Pss 58:3; 64:7). On the presence of תָה–֫ with "the loss of the tone on the final syllable" as "an old accusative of direction or intention," see the discussion in GKC §90g (cf. צָרָ֫תָה in Ps 120:1; עֵיפָ֫תָה in Job 10:22 and עֶזְרָ֫תָה in Ps 44:7). For other instances with the vocalization of our preferred reading, see Ezek 28:15; Hos 10:13 and Ps 125:3.