7 I will listen. Having asked for the Lord’s favor, the psalmist (who here represents the nation) anticipates a divine word of assurance.
8 Heb “speak.” The idiom “speak peace” refers to establishing or maintaining peaceful relations with someone (see Gen 37:4; Zech 9:10; cf. Ps 122:8).
9 Heb “to his people and to his faithful followers.” The translation assumes that “his people” and “his faithful followers” are viewed as identical here.
10 Or “yet let them not.” After the negative particle אֵל (’el), the prefixed verbal form is jussive, indicating the speaker’s desire or wish.
11 Heb “certainly his deliverance [is] near to those who fear him.”
12 Heb “to dwell, glory, in our land.” “Glory” is the subject of the infinitive. The infinitive with -לְ (lé), “to dwell,” probably indicates result here (“then”). When God delivers his people and renews his relationship with them, he will once more reveal his royal splendor in the land.
13 The psalmist probably uses the perfect verbal forms in v. 10 in a dramatic or rhetorical manner, describing what he anticipates as if it were already occurring or had already occurred.
14 Deliverance and peace greet each other with a kiss. The psalmist personifies these abstract qualities to emphasize that God’s loyal love and faithfulness will yield deliverance and peace for his people.
15 The psalmist already sees undeniable signs of God’s faithfulness and expects deliverance to arrive soon.
16 Heb “what is good.”
17 Both “bestow” and “yield” translate the same Hebrew verb (נָתַן, natan). The repetition of the word emphasizes that agricultural prosperity is the direct result of divine blessing.
18 Or “will go.”
19 Or “will prepare.”
20 Heb “and it prepares for a way his footsteps.” Some suggest emending וְיָשֵׂם (véyasem, “and prepares”) to וְשָׁלוֹם (véshalom, “and peace”) since “deliverance” and “peace” are closely related earlier in v. 13. This could be translated, “and peace [goes ahead, making] a pathway for his footsteps” (cf. ).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,

for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;

but let them not turn back to folly.

Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,

that glory may dwell in our land.

Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;

righteousness and peace kiss each other.

Faithfulness springs up from the ground,

and righteousness looks down from the sky.

Yes, the Lord will give what is good,

and our land will yield its increase.

Righteousness will go before him

and make his footsteps a way.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

I will listen to what God the Lord says;

he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—

but let them not turn to folly.

Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,

that his glory may dwell in our land.

Love and faithfulness meet together;

righteousness and peace kiss each other.

Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,

and righteousness looks down from heaven.

The Lord will indeed give what is good,

and our land will yield its harvest.

Righteousness goes before him

and prepares the way for his steps.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

I will listen to what God will say;

surely the Lord will declare peace

to his people, his faithful ones,

and not let them go back to foolish ways.

His salvation is very near those who fear him,

so that glory may dwell in our land.

Faithful love and truth will join together;

righteousness and peace will embrace.

Truth will spring up from the earth,

and righteousness will look down from heaven.

Also, the Lord will provide what is good,

and our land will yield its crops.

Righteousness will go before him

to prepare the way for his steps.

NLTNew Living Translation

I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying,

for he speaks peace to his faithful people.

But let them not return to their foolish ways.

Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,

so our land will be filled with his glory.

Unfailing love and truth have met together.

Righteousness and peace have kissed!

Truth springs up from the earth,

and righteousness smiles down from heaven.

Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings.

Our land will yield its bountiful harvest.

Righteousness goes as a herald before him,

preparing the way for his steps.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

I will hear what God, Yahweh, will speak,

because he will speak peace

to his people, even his faithful ones,

but let them not return to folly.

Surely his salvation is near for those who fear him,

that glory may abide in our land.

Loyal love and faithfulness will meet one another;

righteousness and peace will kiss.

Faithfulness will sprout from the ground,

and righteousness will look down from heaven.

Yes, Yahweh will give what is good,

and our land will give its produce.

Righteousness will go before him,

and it will make his steps a pathway.

KJV 1900King James Version

I will hear what God the Lord will speak:

For he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints:

But let them not turn again to folly.

Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him;

That glory may dwell in our land.

Mercy and truth are met together;

Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Truth shall spring out of the earth;

And righteousness shall look down from heaven.

Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good;

And our land shall yield her increase.

Righteousness shall go before him;

And shall set us in the way of his steps.

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