In Psalm 37:23 who delights in whose way?

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Ruminator
Posts: 52
Joined: Mon Dec 25, 2017 10:09 am

In Psalm 37:23 who delights in whose way?

Post by Ruminator »

WLC

מֵ֭יְהוָה מִֽצְעֲדֵי־גֶ֥בֶר כֹּונָ֗נוּ וְדַרְכֹּ֥ו יֶחְפָּֽץ׃


I'm double posting this question here because it is a Hebfrew grammar question:

https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/ ... -whose-way


There are many different takes on how this verse should be translated. Does the LORD delight in the godly man's path or does the godly man enjoy his own path?:

Translations for Psa 37:23

KJV

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

NKJV

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.

NLT

The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

NIV

The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;

ESV

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way;

CSB

A person’s steps are established by the LORD,

and he takes pleasure in his way.

RVR60

Por Jehová son ordenados los pasos del hombre, Y él aprueba su camino.

NASB

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way.

NET

The LORD grants success to the one whose behavior he finds commendable.

RSV

The steps of a man are from the LORD, and he establishes him in whose way he delights;

ASV

A man’s goings are established of Jehovah; And he delighteth in his way.

YLT

From Jehovah are the steps of a man, They have been prepared, And his way he desireth.

DBY

The steps of a man are established by Jehovah, and he delighteth in his way:

WEB

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

HNV

A man's goings are established by the LORD. He delights in his way.

VUL

[Vulgate 36:23] mem a Domino gressus viri firmantur et viam eius volet

WLC

מֵ֭יְהוָה מִֽצְעֲדֵי־גֶ֥בֶר כֹּונָ֗נוּ וְדַרְכֹּ֥ו יֶחְפָּֽץ׃

LXX

(LXX 36:23)παρὰ κυρίου τὰ διαβήματα ἀνθρώπου κατευθύνεται καὶ τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ θελήσει
---------------
William Ross
kwrandolph
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Re: In Psalm 37:23 who delights in whose way?

Post by kwrandolph »

Ruminator wrote:WLC

מֵ֭יְהוָה מִֽצְעֲדֵי־גֶ֥בֶר כֹּונָ֗נוּ וְדַרְכֹּ֥ו יֶחְפָּֽץ׃

First of all, we need to look at the context:

In verse 20 the subjects are the wicked.
In verse 21 the wicked are contrasted to the just.
In verse 22 again the just are contrasted with the wicked
In verse 24 the subjects are the just.
In verse 25 changes the topic, still the just.

So to keep in topic, the subject of verse 23 is גבר.

The next question, how to divide the verse into its two strophes. I read it as follows:

מיהוה מצעדי גבר
כוננו ודרכו יחפץ

A man’s striding is from the Lord
he (God) desires his (man) being established and his going
(yes, I think that the pointing is incorrect).

This is my present understanding of the verse. If you can give a better understanding, I’d like to hear it.

Karl W. Randolph.
Ruminator
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Joined: Mon Dec 25, 2017 10:09 am

Re: In Psalm 37:23 who delights in whose way?

Post by Ruminator »

I double posted this on Biblical Hermeneutics because I knew this would be controverial.

https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/ ... -whose-way
---------------
William Ross
Isaac Fried
Posts: 1783
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 8:32 pm

Re: In Psalm 37:23 who delights in whose way?

Post by Isaac Fried »

I read Ps. 37:23
מֵיְהוָה מִצְעֲדֵי גֶבֶר כּוֹנָנוּ וְדַרְכּוֹ יֶחְפָּץ
as
"God portends man's steps and He assigns his life path"

Isaac Fried, Boston University
Ruminator
Posts: 52
Joined: Mon Dec 25, 2017 10:09 am

Re: In Psalm 37:23 who delights in whose way?

Post by Ruminator »

Thank you both.

Brenton has this which is somewhat close to Karl's reading:

Brenton Septuagint LXX Psalms 37:23

37:23 The steps of a man are rightly ordered by the Lord: and he will take pleasure in his way.

παρὰ κυρίου τὰ διαβήματα ἀνθρώπου κατευθύνεται καὶ τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ θελήσε
---------------
William Ross
Ruminator
Posts: 52
Joined: Mon Dec 25, 2017 10:09 am

Re: In Psalm 37:23 who delights in whose way?

Post by Ruminator »

Isaac, your reading agrees well with this:

[Eph 2:10 NKJV] (10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
---------------
William Ross
Isaac Fried
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Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 8:32 pm

Re: In Psalm 37:23 who delights in whose way?

Post by Isaac Fried »

Yes, I am quite convinced that יֶחְפָּץ here is not 'will take pleasure', but 'by His will' or 'by His choice', or even, 'as it pleases Him'. In other words, man's trajectory through space and time is in God's hands.

Isaac Fried, Boston University
ducky
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Re: In Psalm 37:23 who delights in whose way?

Post by ducky »

Deleted.
David Hunter
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