New International Version LORD our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds. New Living Translation O LORD our God, you answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, but you punished them when they went wrong. English Standard Version O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. Berean Standard Bible O LORD our God, You answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, yet an avenger of their misdeeds. Berean Literal Bible O YHWH our God, You answered them; a forgiving God You became for them, and one taking vengeance over their misdeeds. King James Bible Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. New King James Version You answered them, O LORD our God; You were to them God-Who-Forgives, Though You took vengeance on their deeds. New American Standard Bible LORD our God, You answered them; You were a forgiving God to them, And yet an avenger of their evil deeds. NASB 1995 O LORD our God, You answered them; You were a forgiving God to them, And yet an avenger of their evil deeds. NASB 1977 O LORD our God, Thou didst answer them; Thou wast a forgiving God to them, And yet an avenger of their evil deeds. Legacy Standard Bible O Yahweh our God, You answered them; You were a forgiving God to them, And yet an avenger of their evil deeds. Amplified Bible You answered them, O LORD our God; You were a forgiving God to them, And yet an avenger of their evil practices. Berean Annotated Bible O LORD our God {YHWH Elohenu}, You answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, yet an avenger of their misdeeds. Christian Standard Bible LORD our God, you answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their sinful actions. Holman Christian Standard Bible LORD our God, You answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, an avenger of their sinful actions. American Standard Version Thou answeredst them, O Jehovah our God: Thou wast a God that forgavest them, Though thou tookest vengeance of their doings. Contemporary English Version Our LORD and our God, you answered their prayers and forgave their sins, but when they did wrong, you punished them. English Revised Version Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their doings. GOD'S WORD® Translation O LORD, our God, you answered them. You showed them that you are a forgiving God and that you are a God who punishes their [sinful] deeds. Good News Translation O LORD, our God, you answered your people; you showed them that you are a God who forgives, even though you punished them for their sins. International Standard Version LORD our God, you answered them; you were their God who forgave them, but also avenged their evil deeds. NET Bible O LORD our God, you answered them. They found you to be a forgiving God, but also one who punished their sinful deeds. New Heart English Bible You answered them, LORD our God. You are a God who forgave them, although you took vengeance for their doings. Webster's Bible Translation Thou didst answer them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleO LORD our God, You answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, yet an avenger of their misdeeds. World English Bible You answered them, Yahweh our God. You are a God who forgave them, although you took vengeance for their doings. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionO YHWH, our God, "" You have afflicted them, "" You have been a forgiving God to them, "" And taking vengeance on their actions. Berean Literal Bible O YHWH our God, You answered them; a forgiving God You became for them, and one taking vengeance over their misdeeds. Young's Literal Translation O Jehovah, our God, Thou hast afflicted them, A God forgiving Thou hast been to them, And taking vengeance on their actions. Smith's Literal Translation O Jehovah our God, thou didst answer them; thou wert God lifting up to them, and taking vengeance for all their doings. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThou didst hear them, O Lord our God: thou wast a merciful God to them, and taking vengeance on all their inventions. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible O LORD, our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, though you punished their offenses. New Revised Standard Version O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThou didst answer them, O LORD our God; thou wast an avenger for them. O God, reward them according to their works. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated LORD JEHOVAH, our God, you answered them, oh God, you have been an avenger to them; pay them according to their works! OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917O LORD our God, Thou didst answer them; A forgiving God wast Thou unto them, Though Thou tookest vengeance of their misdeeds. Brenton Septuagint Translation O Lord our God, thou heardest them; O God, thou becamest propitious to them, though thou didst take vengeance on all their devices. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The LORD Reigns…7He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept His decrees and the statutes He gave them. 8O LORD our God, You answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, yet an avenger of their misdeeds. 9Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.… Cross References O LORD our God, You answered them. 1 Samuel 7:9-10 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him. / As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was offering up the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel. Exodus 17:4-6 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, “What should I do with these people? A little more and they will stone me!” / And the LORD said to Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take along in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. / Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. You were a forgiving God to them, Exodus 34:6-7 Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, / maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” Nehemiah 9:17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not forsake them. Psalm 78:38 And yet He was compassionate; He forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often restrained His anger and did not unleash His full wrath. yet an avenger of their misdeeds. Numbers 14:20-23 “I have pardoned them as you requested,” the LORD replied. / “Yet as surely as I live and as surely as the whole earth is filled with the glory of the LORD, / not one of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness—yet have tested Me and disobeyed Me these ten times— … 2 Samuel 12:13-14 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die. / Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD, the son born to you will surely die.” Deuteronomy 32:35-36 Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.” / For the LORD will vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants when He sees that their strength is gone and no one remains, slave or free. Numbers 14:18 ‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion, forgiving iniquity and transgression. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.’ Daniel 9:9 To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, even though we have rebelled against Him Micah 7:18-19 Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion? / He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast out all our sins into the depths of the sea. Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. Jeremiah 31:34 No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.” 2 Chronicles 30:9 For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.” 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Treasury of Scripture You answered them, O LORD our God: you were a God that forgave them, though you took vengeance of their inventions. thou wast Psalm 89:33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. Numbers 14:20 And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word: Deuteronomy 9:19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the LORD was wroth against you to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also. through Exodus 32:2,34,35 And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me… Numbers 11:33,34 And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague… Numbers 14:20-24 And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word: … their inventions Ecclesiastes 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Jump to Previous Actions Afflicted Although Avenger Deeds Doings Evil Forgave Forgavest Forgiving Inventions Israel Misdeeds Punished Punishment Sin Tookest Vengeance Wast WrongdoingJump to Next Actions Afflicted Although Avenger Deeds Doings Evil Forgave Forgavest Forgiving Inventions Israel Misdeeds Punished Punishment Sin Tookest Vengeance Wast WrongdoingPsalm 99 1. The prophet, setting forth the kingdom of God in Zion5. Exhorts all, by the example of their forefathers, to worship God at his holy hill O LORD our God, You answered them. God heard Moses, Aaron, and Samuel as they stood before Him on behalf of Israel. Throughout Israel’s history, He gave direction, delivered His people, and responded to their intercession during times of rebellion, danger, and national need. 1Sa 7:9-10 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it… You were a forgiving God to them, Though Israel repeatedly sinned, God granted mercy when they turned to Him. He forgave their idolatry, unbelief, and rebellion, providing atonement through the sacrifices He appointed and preserving His covenant people despite their failures. Exo 34:6-7 Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out:… yet an avenger of their misdeeds. God’s forgiveness did not remove all earthly consequences of sin. Moses, Aaron, and the nation experienced His discipline for disobedience, revealing that the holy God who pardons also judges wrongdoing. His justice against sin ultimately points to Christ, who bore its penalty for all who believe. Num 14:20-23 “I have pardoned them as you requested,” the LORD replied.… Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who is both forgiving and just. 2. Moses, Aaron, and Samuel (implied context) These leaders are mentioned earlier in Psalm 99 as those who called upon the LORD and were answered by Him. 3. Israel The nation chosen by God, often the recipient of His forgiveness and discipline. 4. The Tabernacle/Temple (implied context) The place where God’s presence dwelt and where the leaders interceded for the people. 5. The Wilderness (implied context) A significant period in Israel's history where God’s forgiveness and justice were evident. Teaching Points God’s Dual NatureGod is both forgiving and just. Understanding this balance is crucial for a proper relationship with Him. The Importance of Intercession Like Moses, Aaron, and Samuel, believers are called to intercede for others, trusting that God hears and answers. Repentance and Forgiveness God’s forgiveness is available, but it requires genuine repentance. We must acknowledge our sins and turn from them. God’s Discipline God’s discipline is an expression of His love and justice. It is meant to correct and guide us back to Him. Living in Holiness Knowing that God avenges misdeeds should motivate us to live holy and obedient lives, reflecting His character. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Psalm 99:8?2. How does Psalm 99:8 highlight God's balance of justice and forgiveness? 3. What does Psalm 99:8 teach about God's response to human disobedience? 4. How can we apply God's forgiveness in Psalm 99:8 to our lives? 5. Connect Psalm 99:8 with another scripture emphasizing God's mercy and justice. 6. How should Psalm 99:8 influence our understanding of God's character? 7. How does Psalm 99:8 reflect God's balance of justice and forgiveness? 8. What historical context influenced the message of Psalm 99:8? 9. How does Psalm 99:8 challenge our understanding of divine retribution? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 99? (8) Thou tookest vengeance of their inventions (or, works).--This does not refer to the personages just mentioned but to the people at large. The train of thought is as follows:--"There are great saints among us, as in olden time, but, as then, their prayers, while often procuring forgiveness, could not altogether avert punishment for sin; so the present community must expect retribution when sinful, in spite of the mediation of the better part of the nation." The Hebrew style did not favour similes, and hence the poet omits the signs of comparison, and leaves his inference to be drawn by his readers.Verse 8. - Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God (comp. ver. 6, ad fin.). Thou wast a God that forgavest them; literally, a forgiving God wast thou to them. Both Moses and Aaron "angered God at the waters of strife" (Psalm 106:32; Numbers 20:12, 13). Aaron angered him still more by sanctioning the idolatry of the golden calf (Exodus 32:1-24). God pardoned both of them these and other sins, but not without inflicting punishment for the sins. Though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. God's "severity" extended even to these blessed saints, Moses, Aaron, and Samuel. The former two were expressly excluded from the land of promise for their conduct at Meribah (Numbers 20:12); and Samuel's judgeship seems to have been brought to an end through his undue leniency towards his sons Joel and Abiah (1 Samuel 8:1-5). Psalm 99:8 celebrates a God who is both approachable and awe-inspiring. He listens and forgives, proving His compassion; He also judges misdeeds, proving His righteousness. For every believer, that means confident prayer, grateful reliance on mercy, and reverent obedience to the One who is simultaneously Savior and Judge. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew O LORDיְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3069: YHWH our God, אֱלֹהֵינוּ֮ (’ĕ·lō·hê·nū) Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative You אַתָּ֪ה (’at·tāh) Pronoun - second person masculine singular Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you answered them. עֲנִ֫יתָ֥ם (‘ă·nî·ṯām) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural Strong's 6030: To answer, respond You were הָיִ֣יתָ (hā·yî·ṯā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be a forgiving נֹ֭שֵׂא (nō·śê) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take God אֵ֣ל (’êl) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty to them, לָהֶ֑ם (lā·hem) Preposition-l | Pronoun - third person masculine plural Strong's 1992: They yet an avenger וְ֝נֹקֵ֗ם (wə·nō·qêm) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 5358: To grudge, avenge, punish of עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against their misdeeds. עֲלִילוֹתָֽם׃ (‘ă·lî·lō·w·ṯām) Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 5949: An exploit, a performance, an opportunity Additonal Resources Psalm 99:8 Blue Letter BiblePsalm 99:8 Bible Gateway Psalm 99:8 Bible.com Psalm 99:8 NIV |
    |