Text -- Psalms 70:2-5 (NET)

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! 70:4 May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you! May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually, “May God be praised!” 70:5 I am oppressed and needy! O God, hurry to me! You are my helper and my deliverer! O Lord, do not delay!

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

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.”

NET Notes: Psa 70:4

¹ tn Heb “those who love,” which stands metonymically for its cause, the experience of being delivered by God.

² tn The three prefixed verbal forms prior to the quotation are understood as jussives. The psalmist balances out his imprecation against his enemies with a prayer of blessing on the godly.

³ tn Ps 40:16 uses the divine name “Lord” here instead of “God.”

⁴ tn The prefixed verbal form is taken as a jussive, “may the Lord be magnified [in praise].” Another option is to take the verb as an imperfect, “the Lord is great.” See Ps 35:27.

NET Notes: Psa 70:5

¹ sn See Pss 35:10; 37:14.

² tn Ps 40:17 has “may the Lord pay attention to me.”

³ tn Ps 40:17 has “my God” instead of “Lord.”