118:4 Let the loyal followers of the Lord 1 say,
“Yes, his loyal love endures!”
118:5 In my distress 2 I cried out to the Lord.
The Lord answered me and put me in a wide open place. 3
118:6 The Lord is on my side, 4 I am not afraid!
What can people do to me? 5
118:7 The Lord is on my side 6 as my helper. 7
I look in triumph on those who hate me.
1 tn Heb “fearers of the
2 tn Heb “from the distress.” The noun מֵצַר (metsar, “straits; distress”) occurs only here and in Lam 1:3. In Ps 116:3 מצר should probably be emended to מְצָדֵי (mÿtsadey, “snares of”).
3 tn Heb “the
4 tn Heb “for me.”
5 tn The rhetorical question assumes the answer, “Nothing!” The imperfect is used in a modal sense here, indicating capability or potential. See Ps 56:11.
6 tn Heb “for me.”
7 tn Heb “among my helpers.” The preposition may indicate identity here, while the plural may be one of majesty or respect.