Psalm 89 Emotional

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Emotional Analysis

  What is Emotional Analysis?

This layer explores the emotional dimension of the biblical text and seeks to uncover the clues within the text itself that are part of the communicative intent of its author. The goal of this analysis is to chart the basic emotional tone and/or progression of the psalm.

For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Emotional Analysis Creator Guidelines.


Emotional Analysis Chart

  Legend

If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.

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*Emended text* Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation.
*Revocalized text* Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization.
Verse Text (Hebrew) Text (CBC) The Psalmist Feels (General) Emotional Analysis Notes
1 מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל לְאֵיתָ֥ן הָֽאֶזְרָחִֽי׃ A maskil. By Ethan the Ezrahite.
2 חַֽסְדֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה עוֹלָ֣ם אָשִׁ֑ירָה I will sing forever about YHWH's acts of loyalty. • The psalmist is joyful because of YHWH's unending loyalty • The psalmist feels confident that YHWH's loyalty, which is like a secure house in the sky, will continue forever, for generations to come "Singing" (שׁיר) is closely associated with feelings of "joy" (שׂמחה) (see e.g., the parallel שׁיר/שׂמחה in Ps 137:3). The word שׁיר in the Psalter is overwhelmingly associated with positive emotion (see also Exod 15:1; Judg 5:1; etc.).
לְדֹ֥ר וָדֹ֓ר ׀ אוֹדִ֖יעַ אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ בְּפִֽי׃ I will make your reliability known with my mouth for generations to come.
3 כִּֽי־אָמַ֗רְתִּי For I said,
ע֭וֹלָם חֶ֣סֶד יִבָּנֶ֑ה "Loyalty will be built up forever.
שָׁמַ֓יִם ׀ *תִּכֹּן* אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ בָהֶֽם׃ The sky—your reliability will be established in it."
4 כָּרַ֣תִּֽי בְ֭רִית לִבְחִירִ֑י "I have made a covenant with my chosen one. • The psalmist feels confident that YHWH will keep his covenant promises to David, his chosen one, his servant, forever • "YHWH feels determined to keep his covenant promises to David forever"
נִ֝שְׁבַּ֗עְתִּי לְדָוִ֥ד עַבְדִּֽי׃ I have sworn an oath to David, my servant:
5 עַד־ע֭וֹלָם אָכִ֣ין זַרְעֶ֑ךָ I will establish your descendants forever,
וּבָנִ֨יתִי לְדֹר־וָד֖וֹר כִּסְאֲךָ֣ סֶֽלָה׃ and I will build your throne for generations to come.'" Selah.
6 וְי֘וֹד֤וּ שָׁמַ֣יִם פִּלְאֲךָ֣ יְהוָ֑ה So let the sky praise your wonders, YHWH! • The psamist feels awe at YHWH's greatness, his supremacy over all other divine beings
אַף־אֱ֝מֽוּנָתְךָ֗ בִּקְהַ֥ל קְדֹשִֽׁים׃ [Let them praise] your reliability, too, in the assembly of holy ones!
7 כִּ֤י מִ֣י בַ֭שַּׁחַק יַעֲרֹ֣ךְ לַיהוָ֑ה For who in heaven can compare to YHWH?
יִדְמֶ֥ה לַ֝יהוָ֗ה בִּבְנֵ֥י אֵלִים׃ [Who] among the divine beings is like YHWH?
8 אֵ֣ל נַ֭עֲרָץ בְּסוֹד־קְדֹשִׁ֣ים [He is] a god who is terrifying in the council of holy ones, The description in v. 8 implies feelings of awe or fear. נערץ: "state in which deities inspire an extreme fear in others" (SDBH); נורא: "state in which humans, deities, places and activities have qualities that inspire fear in others"
רַבָּ֑ה וְ֝נוֹרָ֗א עַל־כָּל־סְבִיבָֽיו׃ great and fearful above everyone around him.
9 יְהוָ֤ה ׀ אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י צְבָא֗וֹת מִֽי־כָֽמ֖וֹךָ YHWH, God of armies, who is like you?
חֲסִ֥ין ׀ יָ֑הּ Mighty Yah, [who is like you]
וֶ֝אֱמֽוּנָתְךָ֗ סְבִיבוֹתֶֽיךָ׃ with your reliability around you?
10 אַתָּ֣ה מ֭וֹשֵׁל בְּגֵא֣וּת הַיָּ֑ם You rule over the swelling of the sea.
בְּשׂ֥וֹא גַ֝לָּ֗יו אַתָּ֥ה תְשַׁבְּחֵֽם׃ When its waves rise up, you control them.
11 אַתָּ֤ה דִכִּ֣אתָ כֶחָלָ֣ל רָ֑הַב You crushed Rahab like those who are slain.
בִּזְר֥וֹעַ עֻ֝זְּךָ֗ פִּזַּ֥רְתָּ אוֹיְבֶֽיךָ׃ With your strong arm you scattered your enemies.
12 לְךָ֣ שָׁ֭מַיִם The sky is yours;
אַף־לְךָ֥ אָ֑רֶץ the earth also is yours.
תֵּבֵ֥ל וּ֝מְלֹאָ֗הּ אַתָּ֥ה יְסַדְתָּֽם׃ The world and all that is in it—you founded them.
13 צָפ֣וֹן וְ֭יָמִין אַתָּ֣ה בְרָאתָ֑ם North and south—you created them.
תָּב֥וֹר וְ֝חֶרְמ֗וֹן בְּשִׁמְךָ֥ יְרַנֵּֽנוּ׃ Tabor and Hermon rejoice at your name.
14 לְךָ֣ זְ֭רוֹעַ עִם־גְּבוּרָ֑ה You have a strong arm, together with might.
תָּעֹ֥ז יָ֝דְךָ֗ Your hand is powerful,
תָּר֥וּם יְמִינֶֽךָ׃ your right hand exalted.
15 צֶ֣דֶק וּ֭מִשְׁפָּט מְכ֣וֹן כִּסְאֶ֑ךָ The base of your throne is righteousness and justice.
חֶ֥סֶד וֶ֝אֱמֶ֗ת יְֽקַדְּמ֥וּ פָנֶֽיךָ׃ Loyalty and faithfulness stand in front of your presence.
16 אַשְׁרֵ֣י הָ֭עָם יוֹדְעֵ֣י תְרוּעָ֑ה Happy are the people, those who know the signal, • The psalmist feels privileged and joyful to be counted among YHWH's people The word אַשְׁרֵי implies a feeling of admiration on the part of the speaker (see SDBH). In this case, because the psalmist is himself among the admired group, we can infer feelings of privilege and thankfulness.
יְ֝הוָ֗ה בְּֽאוֹר־פָּנֶ֥יךָ יְהַלֵּכֽוּן׃ YHWH, who go about in the light of your presence!
17 בְּ֭שִׁמְךָ יְגִיל֣וּן כָּל־הַיּ֑וֹם They are always glad because of your name, "always glad" (יְגִילוּן): "state in which humans feel and show great joy" (SDBH)
וּבְצִדְקָתְךָ֥ יָרֽוּמוּ׃ and exalted because of your righteousness.
18 כִּֽי־תִפְאֶ֣רֶת עֻזָּ֣מוֹ אָ֑תָּה For you are the strength in which they glory,
וּ֝בִרְצֹנְךָ֗ תָּר֥וּם קַרְנֵֽנוּ׃ and our horn will be exalted because of your favor.
19 כִּ֣י לַֽ֭יהוָה מָֽגִנֵּ֑נוּ For our shield belongs to YHWH,
וְלִקְד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל מַלְכֵּֽנוּ׃ and our king belongs to the holy one of Israel.
20 אָ֤ז דִּבַּ֥רְתָּֽ־בְחָ֡זוֹן לַֽחֲסִידֶ֗יךָ Long ago, you spoke in a vision to your loyal ones • The psalmist feels confident that YHWH will keep his covenant promises to David forever • "YHWH feels determined to keep his covenant promises to David forever"
וַתֹּ֗אמֶר and said,
שִׁוִּ֣יתִי עֵ֭זֶר עַל־גִּבּ֑וֹר "I have granted help to a warrior
הֲרִימ֖וֹתִי בָח֣וּר מֵעָֽם׃ I have exalted someone chosen from the people.
21 מָ֭צָאתִי דָּוִ֣ד עַבְדִּ֑י I have found David, my servant;
בְּשֶׁ֖מֶן קָדְשִׁ֣י מְשַׁחְתִּֽיו׃ I have anointed him with my holy oil;
22 אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָ֭דִי תִּכּ֣וֹן עִמּ֑וֹ My hand will always be with him;
אַף־זְרוֹעִ֥י תְאַמְּצֶֽנּוּ׃ my arm will also strengthen him.
23 לֹֽא־יַשִּׁ֣א אוֹיֵ֣ב בּ֑וֹ No enemy will exact tribute from him,
וּבֶן־עַ֝וְלָ֗ה לֹ֣א יְעַנֶּֽנּוּ׃ and no unjust person will afflict him.
24 וְכַתּוֹתִ֣י מִפָּנָ֣יו צָרָ֑יו But I will crush his adversaries from before him,
וּמְשַׂנְאָ֥יו אֶגּֽוֹף׃ and strike down those who are hostile to him.
25 וֶֽאֶֽמוּנָתִ֣י וְחַסְדִּ֣י עִמּ֑וֹ And my reliability and my loyalty will be with him,
וּ֝בִשְׁמִ֗י תָּר֥וּם קַרְנֽוֹ׃ and his horn will be exalted because of my name.
26 וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י בַיָּ֣ם יָד֑וֹ And I will put his hand on the sea
וּֽבַנְּהָר֥וֹת יְמִינֽוֹ׃ and his right hand on the currents.
27 ה֣וּא יִ֭קְרָאֵנִי He will call out to me,
אָ֣בִי אָ֑תָּה אֵ֝לִ֗י וְצ֣וּר יְשׁוּעָתִֽי׃ "You are my father, my god and the rock who saves me."
28 אַף־אָ֭נִי בְּכ֣וֹר אֶתְּנֵ֑הוּ עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן לְמַלְכֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃ What's more, I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
29 לְ֭עוֹלָ֗ם אֶשְׁמָור־ל֣וֹ חַסְדִּ֑י I will keep my loyalty for him forever,
וּ֝בְרִיתִ֗י נֶאֱמֶ֥נֶת לֽוֹ׃ and my covenant will be enduring for him.
30 וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י לָעַ֣ד זַרְע֑וֹ I will establish his descendants forever
וְ֝כִסְא֗וֹ כִּימֵ֥י שָׁמָֽיִם׃ and his throne as long as the sky endures.
31 אִם־יַֽעַזְב֣וּ בָ֭נָיו תּוֹרָתִ֑י If his descendants reject my instruction
וּ֝בְמִשְׁפָּטַ֗י לֹ֣א יֵלֵכֽוּן׃ and do not walk according to my rules;
32 אִם־חֻקֹּתַ֥י יְחַלֵּ֑לוּ if they dishonor my decrees
וּ֝מִצְוֺתַ֗י לֹ֣א יִשְׁמֹֽרוּ׃ and do not keep my commands,
33 וּפָקַדְתִּ֣י בְשֵׁ֣בֶט פִּשְׁעָ֑ם then I will punish their rebellion with a rod
וּבִנְגָעִ֥ים עֲוֺנָֽם׃ and their iniquity with wounds.
34 וְ֭חַסְדִּי לֹֽא־אָפִ֣יר מֵֽעִמּ֑וֹ But I will not annul my loyalty from being with him,
וְלֹֽא־אֲ֝שַׁקֵּ֗ר בֶּאֱמוּנָתִֽי׃ and I will not deal falsely with my reliability.
35 לֹא־אֲחַלֵּ֥ל בְּרִיתִ֑י I will not dishonor my covenant
וּמוֹצָ֥א שְׂ֝פָתַ֗י לֹ֣א אֲשַׁנֶּֽה׃ or change what has come from my lips.
36 אַ֭חַת נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי בְקָדְשִׁ֑י Once and for all I swear an oath by my holiness:
אִֽם־לְדָוִ֥ד אֲכַזֵּֽב׃ I will not lie to David.
37 זַ֭רְעוֹ לְעוֹלָ֣ם יִהְיֶ֑ה His descendants will be forever,
וְכִסְא֖וֹ כַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ נֶגְדִּֽי׃ and his throne [will be] like the sun before me.
38 כְּ֭יָרֵחַ יִכּ֣וֹן עוֹלָ֑ם Like the moon it will be established forever,
וְעֵ֥ד בַּ֝שַּׁ֗חַק נֶאֱמָ֥ן סֶֽלָה׃ and [like] the witness in heaven [it will be] enduring.'" Selah.
39 וְאַתָּ֣ה זָ֭נַחְתָּ But you have rejected • The psalmist feels ashamed, angry, and betrayed (or "insulted" [on the circumplex]) The series of 2ms verbs in vv. 39–46 lays the blame for the current situation directly on YHWH's shoulders: "you did this." These verses function as an accusation. There is an implicit feeling of anger and, in the context of the covenant promises celebrated in the first part of the psalm (vv. 2–38), an implicit feeling of betrayal. There might also be a sense of disillusionment: "how could this possibly happen?"
וַתִּמְאָ֑ס and refused!
הִ֝תְעַבַּ֗רְתָּ עִם־מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃ You have become furious with your anointed one.
40 נֵ֭אַרְתָּה בְּרִ֣ית עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ You have renounced the covenant with your servant.
חִלַּ֖לְתָּ לָאָ֣רֶץ נִזְרֽוֹ׃ You have thrown his crown down to the ground as something profane.
41 פָּרַ֥צְתָּ כָל־גְּדֵרֹתָ֑יו You have breached all of his walls.
שַׂ֖מְתָּ מִבְצָרָ֣יו מְחִתָּה׃ You have made his strongholds a ruin.
42 שַׁ֭סֻּהוּ כָּל־עֹ֣בְרֵי דָ֑רֶךְ All who pass by have plundered him.
הָיָ֥ה חֶ֝רְפָּ֗ה לִשְׁכֵנָֽיו׃ He has become an object of scorn to his neighbors.
43 הֲ֭רִימוֹתָ יְמִ֣ין צָרָ֑יו You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries.
הִ֝שְׂמַ֗חְתָּ כָּל־אוֹיְבָֽיו׃ You have caused all of his enemies to rejoice.
44 אַף־תָּ֭שִׁיב צ֣וּר חַרְבּ֑וֹ What's worse, you turn back his sharp sword,
וְלֹ֥א הֲ֝קֵימֹת֗וֹ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ and you did not help him up in the battle.
45 הִשְׁבַּ֥תָּ מִטְּהָר֑וֹ You have put an end to his splendor
וְ֝כִסְא֗וֹ לָאָ֥רֶץ מִגַּֽרְתָּה׃ and hurled his throne down to the ground.
46 הִ֭קְצַרְתָּ יְמֵ֣י עֲלוּמָ֑יו You have cut short the days of his youth.
הֶֽעֱטִ֨יתָ עָלָ֖יו בּוּשָׁ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃ You have covered him with shame. Selah.
47 עַד־מָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה How long, YHWH? • The psalmist feels ashamed and desperate The idea of "scorn" (חרף) is prominent in vv. 39–53, occurring four times in this section (vv. 42, 51, 52 [x2]). The word חרפה implies emotional content; it refers to a "state in which humans feel shame and humiliation" (SDBH). The questions "how long?" (v. 47) and "where?" (v. 50), together with the appeal to YHWH's pity for his creatures (rather than an appeal to covenant promises!), imply a sense of desperation.
תִּסָּתֵ֣ר לָנֶ֑צַח Will you hide yourself forever?
תִּבְעַ֖ר כְּמוֹ־אֵ֣שׁ חֲמָתֶֽךָ׃ Will your wrath rage like a fire [forever]?
48 זְכָר־*אֲדֹנָי* מֶה־חָ֑לֶד Remember, Lord, what a lifespan is,
עַל־מַה־שָּׁ֝֗וְא בָּרָ֥אתָ כָל־בְּנֵי־אָדָֽם׃ for what futility you created all people!
49 מִ֤י גֶ֣בֶר יִֽ֭חְיֶה What person can live
וְלֹ֣א יִרְאֶה־מָּ֑וֶת and not see death,
יְמַלֵּ֨ט נַפְשׁ֖וֹ מִיַּד־שְׁא֣וֹל סֶֽלָה׃ can rescue his life from the power of Sheol? Selah.
50 אַיֵּ֤ה ׀ חֲסָדֶ֖יךָ הָרִאשֹׁנִ֥ים ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י Where are your former acts of loyalty, Lord,
נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתָּ לְ֝דָוִ֗ד בֶּאֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃ which you swore to David in your reliability?
51 זְכֹ֣ר אֲ֭דֹנָי חֶרְפַּ֣ת עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ Remember, Lord, how your servants are scorned,
שְׂאֵתִ֥י בְ֝חֵיקִ֗י כָּל־*רִבֵי מֵעַמִּֽים*׃ how I carry in my bosom all the insults of the peoples!
52 אֲשֶׁ֤ר חֵרְפ֖וּ אוֹיְבֶ֥יךָ ׀ יְהוָ֑ה [Remember] that your enemies have scorned, YHWH,
אֲשֶׁ֥ר חֵ֝רְפ֗וּ עִקְּב֥וֹת מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃ that they have scorned the footsteps of your anointed one!
53 בָּר֖וּךְ יְהוָ֥ה לְ֝עוֹלָ֗ם אָ֘מֵ֥ן ׀ וְאָמֵֽן׃ Blessed be YHWH forever! Amen and Amen. • The psalmist feels resolved to bless YHWH, even in difficult circumstances (cf. Job 1:21–22)

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