2:8
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
8a to guard the paths of justice
8b and protect the way of His saints.
2:8a
to guard the paths of justice: In Hebrew, this verse begins with an infinitive verb which means to watch over or protect. This verse may express the purpose of 2:7.
But probably it simply restates or explains the meaning of 2:7. Most English versions do not make the relationship between these verses explicit. For example:
guarding the course of justice (Revised English Bible)
-or-
He guards the paths of the just (New Living Translation (2004))
guard the paths of justice: There are two ways to interpret this clause here:
(1) The LORD guards the lives of people who treat others fairly/justly. For example:
He protects those who treat others fairly (Good News Translation)
(2) The LORD guards the course of justice. He ensures that justice is done. For example:
guarding the paths of justice (English Standard Version)
-or-
He makes sure that justice is done (New Century Version)
Both interpretations are well supported and fit the parallelism. Interpretation (1) will be followed in the Display, but you may follow either one in your translation.
justice: For the word translated as justice, see the note on mišpat in 1:3b.
2:8b
His saints: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as His saints is related to the noun meaning “steadfast/loyal love.” It refers to those who show their loyalty to the LORD by faithfully loving him and his people.
General Comment on 2:8a–b
In this context, the parallel phrases “guard the paths of” and “protect the way of” have essentially the same meaning. The “paths” and the “way” both refer to the lives of people who act justly and are loyal to the LORD. The life of a person often represents the person himself. In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. For example:
protects those who are faithful to him (New Living Translation (2004))
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