38:13 But I am like a deaf man – I hear nothing;
I am like a mute who cannot speak. 1
38:14 I am like a man who cannot hear
and is incapable of arguing his defense. 2
38:15 Yet 3 I wait for you, O Lord!
You will respond, O Lord, my God!
38:16 I have prayed for deliverance, because otherwise they will gloat over me; 4
when my foot slips they will arrogantly taunt me. 5
1 sn I am like a deaf man…like a mute. The psalmist is like a deaf mute; he is incapable of defending himself and is vulnerable to his enemies’ deception (see v. 14).
2 tn Heb “and there is not in his mouth arguments.”
3 tn Or perhaps “surely.”
4 tn Heb “For I said, ‘Lest they rejoice over me.’” The psalmist recalls the motivating argument of his petition. He probably prefaced this statement with a prayer for deliverance (see Pss 7:1-2; 13:3-4; 28:1).
5 tn Heb “they will magnify against me.” See Pss 35:26; 55:13.