Character of Hope

(Psa 30:5 KJV)  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

(Proverbs 30 also read)

If you compare translations here, you see a different thought.  The NASB, and most modern translations, use the word “lifetime” (2425b) .  The KJV uses “life”.  The Hebrew is the same as far as I can tell, but the interpretation seems to be different.

The more modern translations seem to be looking at a period of time in which God is going to be faithful.  That comes out as a lifetime.  The King James seems to be focusing more on the idea of salvation, or redemption of some kind.

This may be another one of those cases where you want to look at both is being possible, and not being forced to pick one or the other.  God’s favor indeed, is greater than His anger.  In theological terms, you might say His grace is greater than His wrath, or His loving kindness is greater than His anger.

So?  God does get angry.  His wrath does get expressed.  There’s no denying that.  But remember Jesus did not come to the manger and go through the agony of crucifixion just so He could figure out how to send more people to hell.  God wants us to endure, and He will endure us and with us.