A psalm of David, written when he fled from his son Absalom. 2
3:1 Lord, how 3 numerous are my enemies!
Many attack me. 4
31:13 For I hear what so many are saying, 5
the terrifying news that comes from every direction. 6
When they plot together against me,
they figure out how they can take my life.
32:6 For this reason every one of your faithful followers 7 should pray to you
while there is a window of opportunity. 8
Certainly 9 when the surging water 10 rises,
it will not reach them. 11
1 sn Psalm 3. The psalmist acknowledges that he is confronted by many enemies (vv. 1-2). But, alluding to a divine oracle he has received (vv. 4-5), he affirms his confidence in God’s ability to protect him (vv. 3, 6) and requests that God make his promise a reality (vv. 7-8).
2 sn According to Jewish tradition, David offered this prayer when he was forced to flee from Jerusalem during his son Absalom’s attempted coup (see 2 Sam 15:13-17).
3 tn The Hebrew term מָה (mah, “how”) is used here as an adverbial exclamation (see BDB 553 s.v.).
4 tn Heb “many rise up against me.”
5 tn Heb “the report of many.”
6 tn Heb “the terror from all around.”
9 tn A “faithful follower” (חָסִיד, khasid) is one who does what is right in God’s eyes and remains faithful to God (see Pss 4:3; 12:1; 18:25; 31:23; 37:28; 86:2; 97:10).
10 tn Heb “at a time of finding.” This may mean, “while there is time to ‘find’ [the
11 tn The Hebrew term רַק (raq) occasionally has an asseverative force.
12 sn The surging water is here a metaphor for trouble that endangers one’s life.
13 tn Heb “him.” The translation uses the plural “them” to agree with the plural “every one of your faithful followers” in the first line of v. 6.