3:26

Notice the parallelism. The second line gives a specific figurative example of how the LORD will be a person’s confidence.

26a for the LORD will be your confidence

26b and will keep your foot from the snare.

3:26a

for the LORD will be your confidence: The phrase your confidence is a figure of speech (metonymy) that represents the basis or object of confidence. This line indicates that a person can confidently trust the LORD to care for him. It is implied that he will protect the person from danger. Another way to translate this clause is:

The Lord will keep you safe (Good News Translation)

3:26b

and will keep your foot from the snare: The phrase your foot is a figure of speech (synecdoche) that represents the whole person. For example:

He will keep you from being trapped. (New Century Version)

This figure of speech refers to the LORD’s protection from unexpected harm or danger. In languages where “trap” is understood only literally, it may be necessary to give the nonfigurative meaning, as the Contemporary English Version has done. The Contemporary English Version has also combined and/or reordered the parallel lines. It has:

You can be sure the Lord will protect you from harm. (Contemporary English Version)

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