PsalmsChapter 43
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In the Russian Synodal Bible this is Psalm 42 Why this psalm has two numbers
Why does this psalm have two numbers?
Psalms are numbered differently in different Bibles. The Russian Synodal translation follows the Greek Bible (the Septuagint) read by the early Church. The Hebrew Bible and translations made from it, including English ones, follow the Hebrew (Masoretic) text.
The Greek Bible joins Psalms 9 and 10 into one, so for most psalms from 10 to 147 the Synodal number is one lower than the Hebrew one. "The Lord is my shepherd" is Psalm 22 in the Synodal Bible and 23 in the Hebrew Bible; David's psalm of repentance is 50 and 51; "The Lord said to my Lord" is 109 and 110.
Neither side is a mistake: ancient traditions divided the same text in different ways. The title above a psalm ("A Psalm of David") is often counted as verse 1 in the Hebrew Bible, so in some psalms the verse numbers shift as well.
How the numbers match
| Synodal | Hebrew |
|---|---|
| 1–8 | 1–8 |
| 9 | 9–10 |
| 10–112 | 11–113 |
| 113 | 114–115 |
| 114–115 | 116 |
| 116–145 | 117–146 |
| 146–147 | 147 |
| 148–150 | 148–150 |
This explanation is a draft awaiting review.
1Vindicate me, God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation. Oh, deliver me from deceitful and wicked men.
Commentary, v. 1 (in Russian)
2For you are the God of my strength. Why have you rejected me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
3Oh, send out your light and your truth. Let them lead me. Let them bring me to your holy hill, To your tents.
Commentary, v. 3 (in Russian)
. "Пошли свет Твой и истину Твою" - пошли Твою милость ("свет"), защити от врагов. "Истина" - верность обетованиям и откровению, по которым праведник заслуживает награды, а грешник - кары. По исполнении этого обетования писатель надеется снова быть на горе Сион в "обителях" Господа, т. е. - при скинии, в местах обитания Господа.
4Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my exceeding joy. I will praise you on the harp, God, my God.
5Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him: my Savior, my helper, and my God.
Text: New Heart English Bible. Commentary: The Explanatory Bible, ed. A. P. Lopukhin (in Russian).
. "Вступись в тяжбу мою с народом недобрым". Писатель сознает свою невиновность перед преследователями и просит Бога о разбирательстве своего дела. "Народ недобрый" - все, восставшие на Давида и приверженцев его, т. е. сторонники Авессалома. "Под человеком лукавым" можно разуметь Авессалома, возбуждавшего народ ложными обвинениями на Давида.