Psalm 132:1–5

132:1 O Lord, for David’s sake remember

all his strenuous effort,1

132:2 and how he made a vow to the Lord,

and swore an oath to the powerful ruler of Jacob.2

132:3 He said,3 “I will not enter my own home,4

or get into my bed.5

132:4 I will not allow my eyes to sleep,

or my eyelids to slumber,

132:5 until I find a place for the Lord,

a fine dwelling place6 for the powerful ruler of Jacob.”7

1	tn Heb “all his affliction.” This may refer to David’s strenuous and tireless efforts to make provision for the building of the temple (see 1 Chr 22:14). Some prefer to revocalize the text as עַנַוָתוֹ (’anavato, “his humility”).
2	tn Heb “the powerful [one] of Jacob.”
3	tn The words “he said” are supplied in the translation to clarify that what follows is David’s vow.
4	tn Heb “the tent of my house.”
5	tn Heb “go up upon the bed of my couch.”
6	tn The plural form of the noun may indicate degree or quality; David envisions a special dwelling place (see Pss 43:3; 46:4; 84:1).
7	tn Heb “the powerful [one] of Jacob.”