Psalms 62–12
Psalm 62:1-12
Psa.62.1 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- למנצח: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- ידותון: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מזמור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לדוד: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ps.39:1 (verbal): Shares the identical Hebrew superscription ('למנצח על־ ידותון מזמור לדוד')—same musical direction (to Jeduthun) and Davidic attribution.
- 1 Chron.16:41 (allusion): Mentions Jeduthun among the Levitical musicians appointed by David, linking the psalm's musical direction to the historical temple/music tradition.
- 1 Chron.25:1 (structural): Describes the organization and families of temple musicians (including Jeduthun's line), providing background for superscriptions that assign tunes or leaders.
- Ps.3:1 (structural): Another psalm with the standard liturgical superscription pattern ('למנצח' / 'מזמור לדוד'), illustrating the common practice of giving musical and Davidic attributions in the Psalter.
Alternative generated candidates
- To the choirmaster. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
- To the choirmaster. For Jeduthun. A maskil of David.
Psa.62.2 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אך: PART
- אל: NEG
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- דומיה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- נפשי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1cs
- ממנו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ישועתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs,1cs
Parallels
- Psalm 62:1 (structural): Immediate parallel within the psalm: the opening line repeats the confession of waiting silently on God and that salvation comes from him.
- Psalm 62:5 (structural): Reiteration later in the psalm of the same theme—the soul’s silence and trust in God as rock and salvation.
- Isaiah 12:2 (verbal): Direct verbal and thematic echo: 'Behold, God is my salvation'—a proclamation of God as savior and the speaker’s trust in him.
- Isaiah 30:15 (thematic): Speaks of 'quietness and trust' as the place of salvation, paralleling the psalm’s emphasis on silence before God and salvation from him.
- Psalm 46:10 (thematic): 'Be still, and know that I am God' resonates with the psalm’s call to a silent, trustful posture before God as the source of salvation.
Alternative generated candidates
- For God alone my soul is still; from him comes my salvation.
- For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.
Psa.62.3 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אך: PART
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- צורי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- וישועתי: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:1,sg
- משגבי: NOUN,m,sg,suff_1cs
- לא: PART_NEG
- אמוט: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- רבה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 18:2 (verbal): Uses the same language of God as rock/fortress/deliverer — the motif of God as a secure rock and source of salvation and stability.
- 2 Samuel 22:3 (verbal): Song of David with nearly identical imagery (rock, fortress, deliverer) portraying God as the singer’s defense and salvation.
- Isaiah 26:4 (thematic): Declares the LORD as the eternal Rock and exhorts trust in him — echoing the theme of God as immovable refuge.
- Psalm 62:6 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same psalm restating ‘He alone is my rock and my salvation… I will not be shaken,’ a near-duplicate affirmation of the same idea.
Alternative generated candidates
- He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress—I shall not be greatly moved.
- For he alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my stronghold—I will not be greatly shaken.
Psa.62.4 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- עד: PREP
- אנה: ADV,interrog
- תהותתו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תרצחו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- כלכם: PRON,2,m,pl
- כקיר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נטוי: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- גדר: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הדחויה: ADJ,f,sg,def
Parallels
- Psalm 31:13 (verbal): Both speak of many conspiring against the psalmist—"whispering of many...they schemed together to take my life"—paralleling the image of all attacking like a leaning, tottering wall.
- Psalm 64:2-5 (thematic): Describes a conspiracy of the wicked who sharpen words and plot secretly against the righteous—echoing the collective, treacherous assault pictured in Ps 62:4.
- Jeremiah 20:10 (thematic): Jeremiah hears "many whispering, terror on every side...let us denounce him," reflecting betrayal and hostile plotting by many akin to the assault imagery in Ps 62:4.
- Psalm 35:11-14 (verbal): Speaks of malicious witnesses and hostile foes who attack without cause; the communal, aggressive opposition parallels the charge that "all of you" are bent on harming the speaker.
Alternative generated candidates
- How long will you plot against a man? You will all break him down—like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence.
- How long will you scheme against a man, all of you? Will you batter him down like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?
Psa.62.5 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אך: PART
- משאתו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m,sg
- יעצו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- להדיח: VERB,hif,inf
- ירצו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- כזב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בפיו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m
- יברכו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- ובקרבם: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m,pl
- יקללו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- סלה: MISC
Parallels
- Psalm 12:2 (verbal): Speaks of flattering lips and a double heart—directly parallels the image of deceitful speech and outward blessing while inwardly opposing.
- Psalm 5:9 (verbal): Denounces lack of faithfulness in the mouth and inward wickedness; echoes the contrast between outward words and inner corruption.
- Psalm 55:21 (thematic): 'His mouth was smoother than butter, yet war was in his heart'—similar theme of pleasant speech covering hostile intent.
- Proverbs 26:28 (thematic): Notes that a flattering mouth works ruin—parallels the idea of words that bless outwardly but harm inwardly.
- Matthew 23:28 (thematic): Jesus' critique of scribes/Pharisees who appear righteous outwardly but are inwardly full of hypocrisy parallels the Psalm's condemnation of duplicitous speech and intent.
Alternative generated candidates
- They devise words to cast him down; they delight in falsehood. With their mouth they bless, but inwardly they curse. Selah.
- They only consult to thrust him down; they delight in lies; with their mouth they bless, but in their heart they curse. Selah.
Psa.62.6 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אך: PART
- לאלהים: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דומי: VERB,qal,imper,2,f,sg
- נפשי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1cs
- כי: CONJ
- ממנו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- תקותי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1s
Parallels
- Psalm 62:5 (verbal): Immediate parallel within the same psalm—verse 5 uses almost identical language about the soul being still/silent for God and placing hope in him.
- Psalm 62:1-2 (verbal): Close verbal and thematic parallel: the opening verses declare the soul's trust and rest in God and state that salvation comes from him, echoing the dependence and quiet waiting of v.6.
- Lamentations 3:26 (thematic): Shared theme of waiting quietly for the LORD's salvation—both verses commend hope and silent patience directed to God's deliverance.
- Isaiah 30:15 (allusion): Speaks of quietness and trust as the place of salvation and strength, paralleling Psalm 62:6's emphasis on silent reliance on God for hope and deliverance.
- Psalm 131:2 (thematic): Expresses a composed, quieted soul that trusts the LORD (like a weaned child), resonating with the Psalm 62 motif of silent confidence in God.
Alternative generated candidates
- For God alone, O my soul, wait in quietness; from him is my hope.
- For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my hope.
Psa.62.7 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אך: PART
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- צורי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- וישועתי: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:1,sg
- משגבי: NOUN,m,sg,suff_1cs
- לא: PART_NEG
- אמוט: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
Parallels
- Ps.18:2 (verbal): Uses the same imagery—'The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer'—echoing 'my rock and my salvation; my fortress; I shall not be shaken.'
- 2 Sam.22:2-3 (quotation): David's song contains language nearly identical to Psalm 62:7 (and Ps.18), calling Yahweh 'my rock, my fortress, my deliverer,' a close verbal parallel.
- Isa.26:4 (thematic): Declares God as an enduring rock—'Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal'—theological parallel about God as secure refuge.
- Ps.31:3 (verbal): Speaks of God as 'my rock and my fortress' who guides and delivers, paralleling the fortress/rock imagery and confidence in not being shaken.
- Prov.18:10 (thematic): Portrays the name of the LORD as a strong tower giving safety—themewise parallel to the fortress/refuge motif in Psalm 62:7.
Alternative generated candidates
- He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress—I will not be moved.
- For he alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my stronghold—I will not be moved.
Psa.62.8 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- על: PREP
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ישעי: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וכבודי: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- צור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עזי: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1cs
- מחסי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+1s
- באלהים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- 2 Samuel 22:2-3 (verbal): Uses the same rock/fortress/refuge language: the Lord is called a rock and deliverer in whom the psalmist takes refuge—close verbal and thematic overlap with 'my rock, my refuge' and 'my salvation.'
- Psalm 31:2-3 (thematic): Prays for God to be a 'rock of refuge' and a stronghold to save—echoes the image of God as personal salvation, strength and refuge found in Ps. 62:8.
- Isaiah 12:2 (thematic): Declares 'Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust...' which parallels Ps. 62:8's affirmation that salvation and glory are in God and the response of trust.
- Deuteronomy 32:4 (allusion): Calls God 'the Rock' whose works are perfect—an earlier foundational image of God as Rock that Psalms (including Ps. 62:8) draw upon to describe divine reliability and refuge.
Alternative generated candidates
- On God rests my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
- My salvation and my honor are with God; the rock of my strength, my refuge, is in God.
Psa.62.9 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- בטחו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- בו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- בכל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- עם: PREP
- שפכו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לפניו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- לבבכם: NOUN,m,sg,poss
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מחסה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- סלה: MISC
Parallels
- Isa.26:4 (verbal): Both verses command trust in the LORD continually/forever ('trust in the LORD for ever' parallels 'trust in him at all times'), sharing the same verbal motif of ongoing trust.
- 1 Pet.5:7 (thematic): Peter's exhortation to 'cast all your anxieties on him' parallels 'pour out your heart before him'—both urge prayerful surrender of inner burdens to God.
- Ps.46:1 (thematic): 'God is our refuge and strength' echoes the declaration 'God is a refuge for us,' using the same theme of God as protector and help in trouble.
- Nahum 1:7 (verbal): Nahum describes God as a stronghold and a refuge for those who trust him—combining the language of refuge with the call to trust found in Psalm 62:9.
Alternative generated candidates
- Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before him—God is a refuge for us. Selah.
- Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him—God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Psa.62.10 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אך: PART
- הבל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כזב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- במאזנים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לעלות: VERB,qal,inf
- המה: PRON,3,m,pl
- מהבל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יחד: ADV
Parallels
- Psalm 39:5-6 (verbal): Speaks of man as a 'breath'/'vanity' and fleeting—closely parallels the Psalm 62 assertion that sons of man are vanity and insubstantial.
- Psalm 144:4 (verbal): Declares 'man is like a breath' and his days like a passing shadow, echoing the transitory, insubstantial character of humanity in Ps 62:10.
- Job 7:16 (thematic): Job calls his days 'vanity' and expresses human frailty and transience, reflecting the same theme that humans are fleeting and vain.
- Ecclesiastes 1:2 (thematic): 'Vanity of vanities' summarizes the transience and futility of human life—an overarching theme shared with Ps 62:10's portrayal of mankind as vain.
- Isaiah 40:6-7 (allusion): Compares all flesh to grass that withers—a prophetic image of human frailty and impermanence that parallels the vanishing, weightless picture of people in Ps 62:10.
Alternative generated candidates
- Truly, people are but a breath; mortals are a lie. In the balances they are altogether lighter than vapor.
- Truly, men are but a breath; sons of men are a lie—when weighed in the balances, they are altogether lighter than vapor.
Psa.62.11 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אל: NEG
- תבטחו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- בעשק: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובגזל: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- תהבלו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- חיל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- ינוב: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- תשיתו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- לב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Proverbs 23:4-5 (verbal): Warns against exhausting oneself to gain wealth and the fleeting nature of riches—parallels the psalm's admonition not to set the heart on increasing gain.
- Proverbs 11:28 (thematic): States that whoever trusts in riches will fall, echoing the psalm's command not to put trust or hope in ill-gotten or increasing wealth.
- Ecclesiastes 5:10 (thematic): Declares that the lover of money is never satisfied, underscoring the futility of placing one’s heart in gain as the psalm warns.
- Luke 12:15-21 (Parable of the Rich Fool) (allusion): Jesus warns against covetousness and building one’s life on wealth, mirroring the psalmist’s counsel not to set the heart on accumulating riches.
- 1 Timothy 6:17 (verbal): Paul instructs the rich not to be arrogant or to set their hope on wealth but on God—language and intent closely echo the psalm’s prohibition against trusting in wealth.
Alternative generated candidates
- Do not trust in oppression, and do not set vain hope on robbery; if wealth increases, do not set your heart upon it.
- Do not trust in oppression, nor set vain hope on robbery; though riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
Psa.62.12 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אחת: NUM,f,sg
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- שתים: NUM,f,pl,abs
- זו: PRON,dem,f,sg
- שמעתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,sg
- כי: CONJ
- עז: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאלהים: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Romans 2:6 (verbal): Direct verbal/thematic echo: ‘He will render to each one according to his works’ parallels Psalm’s ‘thou renderest to every man according to his work.’
- Revelation 22:12 (allusion): The eschatological counterpart: the Lord coming ‘bringing my recompense, to repay each one for what he has done’ echoes the Psalm’s emphasis on God repaying according to works.
- Psalm 86:15 (thematic): Both verses affirm God’s mercy/steadfast love: ‘But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious…’ connects to the Psalm’s line that mercy belongs to the Lord.
- Deuteronomy 32:4 (thematic): Attributes God’s justice and power: ‘His work is perfect… a God of faithfulness and without iniquity,’ resonating with the Psalm’s focus on God’s power and righteous dealings.
- Psalm 147:5 (thematic): Affirms divine might and understanding—‘Great is our Lord, and abundant in power’—paralleling the Psalm’s declaration that strength/power belongs to God.
Alternative generated candidates
- One thing God has spoken—two things I have heard: that power belongs to God.
- One thing God has spoken; two things I have heard: that power belongs to God.
To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.
For he alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
How long will you scheme against a man? You all will batter him down as a leaning wall, as a tottering fence.
They take counsel only to thrust him down; they delight in falsehood. With their mouth they bless, but inwardly they curse. Selah.
For to God alone, O my soul, be silent; for from him comes my hope.
For he alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be moved.
On God rests my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, my refuge, is in God.
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him—God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Men are but a breath, the sons of men a lie; in the balances they are altogether lighter than a breath.
Do not trust in oppression, and do not set vain hope on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.
One thing God has spoken; two things I have heard: that power belongs to God.