The Meaning of the Phrase בְצִדְקָתֶךָ in Psalm 5:9

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Introduction[ ]

The Masoretic text of Psalm 5:9a reads:

יְהוָ֤ה ׀ נְחֵ֬נִי בְצִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ[1]

The phrase בְצִדְקָתֶךָ, specifically the meaning of the בְּ preposition, will be the focus of this exegetical issue. The majority of modern translations and ancient versions simply translate the בְּ preposition as ‘in’ and allow the ambiguity to stand, e.g.,[2]

  • Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness (NIV)
  • κύριε, ὁδήγησόν με ἐν τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ σου ‘O Lord, guide me in your righteousness’ (LXX)

The translations that do attempt to bring out exactly what is meant by ‘...in your righteousness’ represent two options for understanding the meaning of בְּ ‘in’ here.

  • A few translations reflect an analysis where the בְּ is one that marks location.
    • E.g., ‘O Lord, lead me along your righteous path’ (JPS)
  • Other translations reflect a בְּ of mode.
    • E.g., ‘You do what is right, and I ask you to guide me’ (CEV).

According to the location interpretation, the בְּ introduces the ‘place’ where the psalmist wants God to lead him. The psalmist desires to be righteous as YHWH is righteous, and so he prays that YHWH would lead him 'in' his righteousness.

According to the mode interpretation, the phrase introduced by בְּ answers the questions ‘How? In what way? Under which circumstances’[3] in relation to the action denoted by the verb. Thus the psalmist makes his request for guidance with view to the fact that God is righteous. The CEV, cited above, brings out the circumstance whereby God is righteous by simply translating the phrase as a separate clause.

The following translation adopts both meanings:

  • HERR, erweise mir deine Treue und leite mich auf dem richtigen Weg (NGÜ).

Argument Maps[ ]

(Metaphorical) Location[ ]

A few translations interpret the בְּ here as introducing the metaphorical ‘place’ where the psalmist wants God to lead him, i.e., in God's righteous paths or ways (NLT, GNT, JPS). 


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[Location]: The בְּ in בְצִדְקָתֶךָ in Psalm 5:9 is a בְּ of location. #dispreferred
  +<Attested imagery>: ‘Righteous paths’ are spoken of elsewhere in scripture (see Hupfeld 1853:82 :C:). #dispreferred
    + [Attested imagery]: בְּאֹֽרַח־צְדָקָ֥ה אֲהַלֵּ֑ך ‘I will walk in the way of righteousness’ (Prov. 8:20 ESV); בְּאֹֽרַח־צְדָקָ֥ה חַיִּ֑ים ‘Life is in the path of righteousness’ (Prov. 12:28) #dispreferred
    <_<Does not entail metonymic usage>: The fact that צְדָקָה sometimes qualifies a ‘path’ does not necessarily mean that צְדָקָה by itself can be used to refer to a path.
  +<Ps. 27:11>: A nearly identical request is found in Psalm 27:11, where the psalmist asks to be led down a right(eous) path (see Zenger 1993:66 :C:) #dispreferred
    +[Ps. 27:11]:ה֤וֹרֵ֥נִי יְהוָ֗ה דַּ֫רְכֶּ֥ךָ וּ֭נְחֵנִי בְּאֹ֣רַח מִישׁ֑וֹר לְ֝מַ֗עַן שׁוֹרְרָֽי׃ ‘Teach me your way, Lord, and lead me on an upright path because of my enemies’ (Ps. 27:11). #dispreferred
    <_ <לְמַעַן שׁוֹרְרָי as a Janus>: In Ps. 5:9, the phrase לְמַעַן שׁוֹרְרָי constitutes an independent line which modifies both the clause in the previous line and the clause in the following line. Thus, because לְמַעַן שׁוֹרְרָי modifies the clause in the following line ('make straight your way'), the similarity can be affirmed without constraining the meaning of v. 9a.
     +<Poetic Structure>: ‘The parallel three-word clauses on either side of this central colon would themselves comprise a fine 3-3 line; the central phrase thus stands out and applies to both clauses’ (Goldingay 2006 :C:).
  + <Parallel to 9c>: A request that makes reference to walking a right(eous) path is found in the parallel line (v. 9c. #dispreferred
    + [v. 9c]: הַיְשַׁ֖ר לְפָנַ֣י דַּרְכֶּֽךָ ‘Make straight your path(s) before me’. #dispreferred
    <_ <Complementary>: The two lines are better read as complementing each other rather than simply repeating each other. ‘(T)he poet acknowledges that walking the walk of righteousness is not a work humans achieve on their own, but is a gift that God gives to God’s covenant partners’ (DeClaisse-Walford et al. 2014:97 :C:; see also Calvin :C:)


Argument Mapn0LocationThe בְּ in בְצִדְקָתֶךָ in Psalm 5:9 is a בְּ of location. n1Attested imageryבְּאֹֽרַח־צְדָקָ֥ה אֲהַלֵּ֑ך ‘I will walk in the way of righteousness’ (Prov. 8:20 ESV); בְּאֹֽרַח־צְדָקָ֥ה חַיִּ֑ים ‘Life is in the path of righteousness’ (Prov. 12:28) n4Attested imagery‘Righteous paths’ are spoken of elsewhere in scripture (see Hupfeld 1853:82 🄲). n1->n4n2Ps. 27:11ה֤וֹרֵ֥נִי יְהוָ֗ה דַּ֫רְכֶּ֥ךָ וּ֭נְחֵנִי בְּאֹ֣רַח מִישׁ֑וֹר לְ֝מַ֗עַן שׁוֹרְרָֽי׃ ‘Teach me your way, Lord, and lead me on an upright path because of my enemies’ (Ps. 27:11). n6Ps. 27:11A nearly identical request is found in Psalm 27:11, where the psalmist asks to be led down a right(eous) path (see Zenger 1993:66 🄲) n2->n6n3v. 9cהַיְשַׁ֖ר לְפָנַ֣י דַּרְכֶּֽךָ ‘Make straight your path(s) before me’. n9Parallel to 9cA request that makes reference to walking a right(eous) path is found in the parallel line (v. 9c. n3->n9n4->n0n5Does not entail metonymic usageThe fact that צְדָקָה sometimes qualifies a ‘path’ does not necessarily mean that צְדָקָה by itself can be used to refer to a path.n5->n4n6->n0n7לְמַעַן שׁוֹרְרָי as a JanusIn Ps. 5:9, the phrase לְמַעַן שׁוֹרְרָי constitutes an independent line which modifies both the clause in the previous line and the clause in the following line. Thus, because לְמַעַן שׁוֹרְרָי modifies the clause in the following line ('make straight your way'), the similarity can be affirmed without constraining the meaning of v. 9a.n7->n6n8Poetic Structure‘The parallel three-word clauses on either side of this central colon would themselves comprise a fine 3-3 line; the central phrase thus stands out and applies to both clauses’ (Goldingay 2006 🄲).n8->n7n9->n0n10ComplementaryThe two lines are better read as complementing each other rather than simply repeating each other. ‘(T)he poet acknowledges that walking the walk of righteousness is not a work humans achieve on their own, but is a gift that God gives to God’s covenant partners’ (DeClaisse-Walford et al. 2014:97 🄲; see also Calvin 🄲)n10->n9


Mode (Preferred)[ ]

Some translations translate the בְּ as a בְּ of mode. That is, the בְּ introduces the attendant circumstances accompanying the main verb (נְחֵנִי ‘lead me’). In other words the psalmist makes a request of God with a view to the fact (the ‘circumstance’) that God acts righteously (cf. CEV, NJB, GNB, BDS, PDV2017, NFC). 


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[Mode]: The בְּ in בְצִדְקָתֶךָ is a בְּ of mode (Jenni 1992:335 :G:).
  +<בְּ + צְדָקָה as mode>: The noun צְדָקָה is collocated with modal בְּ in a number of other places.
    + [בְּ + צְדָקָה as mode]: 1 Kg. 3:6; Isa. 48:1; 54:14; 63:1; Jer. 4:2; Zech. 8:8; Mal. 3:3; Pss. 31:1; 71:2; 72:3; 143:1 (Jenni 1992:335 :M:)
  +<צְדָקָה on its own as God's righteousness>: Whenever צְדָקָה occurs non-attributively, God's צְדָקָה always clearly refers to his righteousness that comes from performing righteous acts.
    +[צְדָקָה on its own as God's righteousness]: ‏אֲנִ֥י אַגִּ֖יד צִדְקָתֵ֑ךְ וְאֶֽת־מַעֲשַׂ֖יִךְ ‘I will declare your righteousness and your deeds’ (Isa. 57:12); ‏ צִדְקָתְךָ֬ לֹא־כִסִּ֨יתִי ׀ בְּת֬וֹךְ לִבִּ֗י אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ וּתְשׁוּעָתְךָ֣ אָמָ֑רְתִּי ‘I have not hidden your righteousness in my heart. your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken’ (Ps. 40:11); ‏פִּ֤י ׀ יְסַפֵּ֬ר צִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ כָּל־הַיּ֥וֹם תְּשׁוּעָתֶ֑ךָ ‘My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of you deeds of salvation all the day’ (Ps. 71:15 ESV) (see also Pss. 40:11; 51:16; 71:16, 24; 72:1, etc).  
  +<Request for protection>: The Psalmist is asking for protection from enemies, and a request for protection is compatible with appealing to God's righteousness, by virtue of which God protects his own people (see Baethgetn 1904:12 :C:)
    +<‘Because of my enemies’>: David explains his request with ‘because of my enemies’ (לְמַ֥עַן שׁוֹרְרָ֑י).


Argument Mapn0ModeThe בְּ in בְצִדְקָתֶךָ is a בְּ of mode (Jenni 1992:335 🄶).n1בְּ + צְדָקָה as mode1 Kg. 3:6; Isa. 48:1; 54:14; 63:1; Jer. 4:2; Zech. 8:8; Mal. 3:3; Pss. 31:1; 71:2; 72:3; 143:1 (Jenni 1992:335 🄼)n3בְּ + צְדָקָה as modeThe noun צְדָקָה is collocated with modal בְּ in a number of other places.n1->n3n2צְדָקָה on its own as God's righteousness‏אֲנִ֥י אַגִּ֖יד צִדְקָתֵ֑ךְ וְאֶֽת־מַעֲשַׂ֖יִךְ ‘I will declare your righteousness and your deeds’ (Isa. 57:12); ‏ צִדְקָתְךָ֬ לֹא־כִסִּ֨יתִי ׀ בְּת֬וֹךְ לִבִּ֗י אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ וּתְשׁוּעָתְךָ֣ אָמָ֑רְתִּי ‘I have not hidden your righteousness in my heart. your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken’ (Ps. 40:11); ‏פִּ֤י ׀ יְסַפֵּ֬ר צִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ כָּל־הַיּ֥וֹם תְּשׁוּעָתֶ֑ךָ ‘My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of you deeds of salvation all the day’ (Ps. 71:15 ESV) (see also Pss. 40:11; 51:16; 71:16, 24; 72:1, etc). n4צְדָקָה on its own as God's righteousnessWhenever צְדָקָה occurs non-attributively, God's צְדָקָה always clearly refers to his righteousness that comes from performing righteous acts.n2->n4n3->n0n4->n0n5Request for protectionThe Psalmist is asking for protection from enemies, and a request for protection is compatible with appealing to God's righteousness, by virtue of which God protects his own people (see Baethgetn 1904:12 🄲)n5->n0n6‘Because of my enemies’David explains his request with ‘because of my enemies’ (לְמַ֥עַן שׁוֹרְרָ֑י).n6->n5


Conclusion[ ]

The frequent attribution of ‘righteousness’ to a metaphorical ‘path’ leads some to import this concept into the phrase בְצִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ in Psalm 5:9. Under this interpretation, the בְּ ends up expressed as a bet of location. This analysis is further reinforced by a very similar formulation in Psalm 27:11. When a metaphorical path is intended, however, the noun צְדָקָה is always in some attributive construction with another element (e.g., either a bound phrase or an adjectival phrase). The word צְדָקָה never occurs on its own as a reference to a metaphorical path. Furthermore, a number of examples of צְדָקָה introduced by modal bet can be cited. The similarity to Psalm 27:11 need not detract from the analysis since the phrase לְמַ֥עַן שׁוֹרְרָ֑י probably modifies both what comes before it and after it. This way, the similarity to Psalm 27:11 is maintained, and a complementary meaning is afforded to the verse 9: The Psalmist asks for his way to be made straight (9b) and appeals to God's righteousness in virtue of which the Psalmist can also ask for protection from enemies. For these reasons, we have analysed the בְּ in Psalm 5:9 a as a bet of mode: ‘YHWH, guide me because you are righteous!’

Research[ ]

Translations[ ]

Ancient[ ]

LXX
κύριε, ὁδήγησόν με ἐν τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ σου ἕνεκα τῶν ἐχθρῶν μου, [4]
O Lord, guide me in your righteousness for the sake of my enemies; [5]
Jerome (iuxta Hebraica)
Domine deduc me in iustitia tua[6]
Lord, Lead me in your justice
Peshitta
ܒܕܚܠܬܟ ܡܪܝܐ݁ ܕܒܪܝܢܝ݂ ܘܒܙܕܝܩܘܬܟ[7]
In your fear, Lord, lead me, and in your righteousness
Targum
יהוה דבר יתי בצדקתך מן בגלל תושׁבחי[8]
O Lord, lead me in your righteousness on account of my praise[9]

Modern[ ]

(Metaphorical) Location[10][ ]

  • NLT: Lead me in the right path, O LORD, or my enemies will conquer me.
  • GNT: LORD, I have so many enemies! Lead me to do your will;
  • JPS: O Lord, lead me along your righteous path[11]

Mode[ ]

  • CEV: You do what is right, and I ask you to guide me. Make your teaching clear because of my enemies.
  • NJB: In your saving justice, Yahweh, lead me.
  • GNB: HERR, lass meine Feinde sehen, wie du mir hilfst
  • BDS: Eternel, conduis-moi, toi qui es juste, car j’ai des ennemis.
  • PDV2017: Seigneur, tu es juste, guide-moi,
  • NFC: Seigneur, tu es un Dieu juste, sois mon guide à cause de mes adversaires

Both Mode and (Meatphorical) Location[ ]

  • NGÜ: HERR, erweise mir deine Treue und leite mich auf dem richtigen Weg

Ambiguous[ ]

  • NIV: Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies
  • ESV: Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies;
  • NASB: Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies;
  • HCSB: Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies;
  • NET: LORD, lead me in your righteousness because of those who wait to ambush me
  • NEB: Lead me, Lord, in thy righteousness
  • NRSV: Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
  • LUTHER2017: HERR, leite mich in deiner Gerechtigkeit
  • Elberfelder: HERR, leite mich in deiner Gerechtigkeit
  • EÜ: HERR, leite mich in deiner Gerechtigkeit,
  • ZÜ:  HERR, leite mich in deiner Gerechtigkeit
  • NBS: Seigneur, conduis-moi dans ta justice[12]
  • NVS78P: Éternel ! conduis-moi dans ta justice
  • S21: Eternel, conduis-moi dans ta justice
  • RVR95: Guíame, Jehová, en tu justicia, a causa de mis enemigos;
  • NVI: Señor, por causa de mis enemigos, dirígeme en tu justicia;
  • DHH94I: Señor, por causa de mis enemigos guíame en tu justicia,
  • BTX: Guíame, oh YHVH, en tu justicia

Secondary Literature[ ]

Baethgen, Friedrich. 1904. Die Psalmen. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht.
Calvin, John. Commentary on the Book of Psalms. Translated by James Anderson. Grand Rapids: Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
DeClaisse-Walford, Nancy L., Rolf A. Jacobson, and Beth LaNeel Tanner. 2014. The Book of Psalms. New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
Hupfeld, Hermann. 1855. Die Psalmen. Vol. 1. Gotha: Friedrich Andreas Perthes.
Jenni, Ernst. 1992. Die Hebräischen Präpositionen Band 1: Die Präposition Beth. Stuttgart: W. Kohlhammer.
Zenger, Erich. 1993. Die Psalmen I: Psalm 1–50. Neue Echter Bibel. Würzburg: Echter.

References[ ]

5:9

  1. ↑ Text taken from OSHB
  2. ↑ It is not clear how some translations are understanding the preposition, e.g., ‘Lead me and protect me, Lord’ (REB); ‘Zeige denen, die mich verleumden, dass du zu mir stehst! Ebne mir den Weg, den ich gehen soll!’ (HFA).
  3. ↑ Jenni (1992:330)
  4. ↑ Rhalfs (1931, 85)
  5. ↑ NETS
  6. ↑ Weber and Gryson 5th ed.
  7. ↑ Walters (1980, 4)
  8. ↑ CAL
  9. ↑ Stec (2004, 33)
  10. ↑ Perhaps the instrumental translation of TOB could be seen as an extension of this option ‘Seigneur, conduis-moi par ta justice’
  11. ↑ Translator's note: ‘Or “as You are righteous, lead me.”’
  12. ↑ Translators note: aplanis ta voie...: certains, d'aprés quelques mss hébreux et grects, modifient le texte hébreu traditionnel pour lire aplanis ma voie devant toi
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