10 Heb “among those who called on his name.”
11 Heb “those who.” The participle is in apposition to the phrase “those who called on his name” in the preceding line.
12 A pillar of cloud. The psalmist refers to the reality described in Exod 33:9–10; Num 12:5; and Deut 31:15.
13 Heb “a God of lifting up [i.e., forgiveness] you were to them, and an avenger concerning their deeds.” The present translation reflects the traditional interpretation, which understands the last line as qualifying the preceding one. God forgave Moses and Aaron, but he also disciplined them when they sinned (cf. , ). Another option is to take “their deeds” as referring to harmful deeds directed against Moses and Aaron. In this case the verse may be translated, “and one who avenged attacks against them.” Still another option is to emend the participial form נֹקֵם (noqem, “an avenger”) to נֹקָם (noqam), a rare Qal participial form of נָקַה (naqah, “purify”) with a suffixed pronoun. In this case one could translate, “and one who purified them from their [sinful] deeds” (cf. “and held them innocent”).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Moses and Aaron were among his priests,

Samuel also was among those who called upon his name.

They called to the Lord, and he answered them.

In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them;

they kept his testimonies

and the statute that he gave them.

O Lord our God, you answered them;

you were a forgiving God to them,

but an avenger of their wrongdoings.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Moses and Aaron were among his priests,

Samuel was among those who called on his name;

they called on the Lord

and he answered them.

He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud;

they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.

Lord our God,

you answered them;

you were to Israel a forgiving God,

though you punished their misdeeds.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Moses and Aaron were among his priests;

Samuel also was among those calling on his name.

They called to the Lord and he answered them.

He spoke to them in a pillar of cloud;

they kept his decrees and the statutes he gave them.

Lord our God, you answered them.

You were a forgiving God to them,

but an avenger of their sinful actions.

NLTNew Living Translation

Moses and Aaron were among his priests;

Samuel also called on his name.

They cried to the Lord for help,

and he answered them.

He spoke to Israel from the pillar of cloud,

and they followed the laws and decrees he gave them.

O Lord our God, you answered them.

You were a forgiving God to them,

but you punished them when they went wrong.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Moses and Aaron were among his priests;

Samuel also was among those who called on his name.

They called to Yahweh, and he answered them.

He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud.

They kept his testimonies and the statute he gave to them.

O Yahweh our God, you answered them.

You were a forgiving God to them,

but an avenger of their wrong deeds.

KJV 1900King James Version

Moses and Aaron among his priests,

And Samuel among them that call upon his name;

They called upon the Lord, and he answered them.

He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar:

They kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.

Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God:

Thou wast a God that forgavest them,

Though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.

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