Text -- Psalms 70:1-3 (NET)

Psalm 70

70:1 For the music director; by David; written to get God’s attention. O God, please be willing to rescue me! O Lord, hurry and help me! 70:2 May those who are trying to take my life be embarrassed and ashamed! May those who want to harm me be turned back and ashamed! 70:3 May those who say, “Aha! Aha!” be driven back and disgraced!

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Psa 70:1

¹ sn Psalm 70. This psalm is almost identical to Ps 40:13-17. The psalmist asks for God’s help and for divine retribution against his enemies.

² tn Heb “to cause to remember.” The same form, a Hiphil infinitive of זָכַר (zakhar, “remember”), also appears in the superscription of Ps 38. Some understand this in the sense of “for the memorial offering,” but it may carry the idea of bringing one’s plight to God’s attention (see P. C. Craigie, Psalms 1-50 [WBC], 303).

³ tn Heb “O God, to rescue me.” A main verb is obviously missing. The verb רָצָה (ratsah, “be willing”) should be supplied (see Ps 40:13). Ps 40:13 uses the divine name “Lord” rather than “God.”

⁴ tn Heb “hurry to my help.” See Pss 22:19; 38:22.

NET Notes: Psa 70:2

¹ tn Heb “may they be embarrassed and ashamed, the ones seeking my life.” Ps 40:14 has “together” after “ashamed,” and “to snatch it away” after “my life.”

² tn The four prefixed verbal forms in this verse are understood as jussives. The psalmist is calling judgment down on his enemies.

sn See Ps 35:4 for a similar prayer.

NET Notes: Psa 70:3

¹ tn The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive in this imprecation.

² tn Heb “May they be turned back according to their shame, those who say, ‘Aha! Aha!’” Ps 40:15 has the verb “humiliated” instead of “turned back” and adds “to me” after “say.”