20:11 But the Lord is with me to help me like an awe-inspiring warrior. 4
Therefore those who persecute me will fail and will not prevail over me.
They will be thoroughly disgraced because they did not succeed.
Their disgrace will never be forgotten.
1 tn Heb “for their worm will not die.”
2 tn Heb “and their fire will not be extinguished.”
3 tn Heb “and they will be an abhorrence to all flesh.”
4 sn This line has some interesting ties with Jer 15:20-21 where Jeremiah is assured by God that he is indeed with him as he promised him when he called him (1:8, 19) and will deliver him from the clutches of wicked and violent people. The word translated here “awe-inspiring” is the same as the word “violent people” there. Jeremiah is confident that his “awe-inspiring” warrior will overcome “violent people.” The statement of confidence here is, by the way, a common element in the psalms of petition in the Psalter. The common elements of that type of psalm are all here: invocation (v. 7), lament (vv. 7-10), confession of trust/confidence in being heard (v. 11), petition (v. 12), thanksgiving or praise (v. 13). For some examples of this type of psalm see Pss 3, 7, 26.
5 tn Grk “Or does not the potter have authority over the clay to make from the same lump.”
6 tn Grk “one vessel for honor and another for dishonor.”