Psalms 16:3

16:3 As for God’s chosen people who are in the land,

and the leading officials I admired so much

Psalms 35:27

35:27 May those who desire my vindication shout for joy and rejoice!

May they continually say, “May the Lord be praised, for he wants his servant to be secure.”

Psalms 40:14

40:14 May those who are trying to snatch away my life

be totally embarrassed and ashamed!

May those who want to harm me

be turned back and ashamed!

Psalms 70:2

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!


tn Heb “regarding the holy ones who [are] in the land, they; and the mighty [ones] in [whom is/was] all my desire.” The difficult syntax makes the meaning of the verse uncertain. The phrase “holy ones” sometimes refers to God’s angelic assembly (see Ps 89:5, 7), but the qualifying clause “who are in the land” suggests that here it refers to God’s people (Ps 34:9) or to their priestly leaders (2 Chr 35:3).

tn The prefixed verbal forms in v. 27a are understood as jussives (see vv. 24b-26).

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.”

tn Heb “the one who desires the peace of his servant.”

tn Heb “may they be embarrassed and ashamed together, the ones seeking my life to snatch it away.”

tn The four prefixed verbal forms in this verse (“may those…be…embarrassed and ashamed…may those…be turned back and ashamed”) are understood as jussives. The psalmist is calling judgment down on his enemies.

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.”

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