Psalm 87

¹The Lord ’s city is in the holy hills.[#tn Heb “his foundation [is] in the hills of holiness.” The expression “his foundation” refers here by metonymy to the Lord’s dwelling place in Zion. The “hills” are the ones surrounding Zion (see Pss 125:2; 133:3).]

²The Lord loves the gates of Zion

more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.

³People say wonderful things about you,[#tn Heb “glorious things are spoken about you.” The translation assumes this is a general reference to compliments paid to Zion by those who live within her walls and by those who live in the surrounding areas and lands. Another option is that this refers to a prophetic oracle about the city’s glorious future. In this case one could translate, “wonderful things are announced concerning you.”]

O city of God. (Selah)

⁴I mention Rahab and Babylon to my followers.[#sn “Rahab,” which means “proud one,” is used here as a title for Egypt (see Isa 30:7).; #tn Heb “to those who know me” (see Ps 36:10). Apparently the Lord speaks here. The verbal construction (the Hiphil of זָכַר, zakhar, “remember” followed by the preposition -לְ [le] with a substantive) is rare, but the prepositional phrase is best understood as indicating the recipient of the announcement (see Jer 4:16). Some take the preposition in the sense of “among” and translate, “among those who know me” (cf. NEB, NIV, NRSV). In this case these foreigners are viewed as the Lord’s people and the psalm is interpreted as anticipating a time when all nations will worship the Lord (see Ps 86:9) and be considered citizens of Zion.]

Here are Philistia and Tyre, along with Ethiopia.

It is said of them, “This one was born there.”

⁵But it is said of Zion’s residents,[#tn Heb “and of Zion it is said.” Another option is to translate, “and to Zion it is said.” In collocation with the Niphal of אָמַר (’amar), the preposition lamed (-לְ) can introduce the recipient of the statement (see Josh 2:2; Jer 4:11; Hos 1:10; Zeph 3:16), carry the nuance “concerning, of” (see Num 23:23), or mean “be named” (see Isa 4:3; 62:4).]

“Each one of these was born in her,

and the sovereign One makes her secure.”

⁶The Lord writes in the census book of the nations,[#tn Heb “the Lord records in the writing of the nations.”]

“This one was born there.” (Selah)

⁷As for the singers, as well as the pipers –

all of them sing within your walls.