Psalm 120:2-4

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Psalm 120:2 tn The words “I said” are supplied in the translation for clarification. See the introductory note for this psalm.
2. Psalm 120:2 tn Or “my life.”
3. Psalm 120:2 tn Heb “from a lip of falsehood.”
4. Psalm 120:2 tn Heb “from a tongue of deception.”
5. Psalm 120:3 tn Heb “What will he give to you, and what will he add to you, O tongue of deception?” The psalmist addresses his deceptive enemies. The Lord is the understood subject of the verbs “give” and “add.” The second part of the question echoes a standard curse formula, “thus the Lord/God will do…and thus he will add” (see Ruth 1:17; 1 Sam 3:17; 14:44; 20:13; 25:22; 2 Sam 3:9, 35; 19:13; 1 Kgs 2:23; 2 Kgs 6:31).
6. Psalm 120:4 tn The words “here’s how” are supplied in the translation as a clarification. In v. 4 the psalmist answers the question he raises in v. 3.
7. Psalm 120:4 tn Heb “with coals of the wood of the broom plant.” The wood of the broom plant was used to make charcoal, which in turn was used to fuel the fire used to forge the arrowheads.