38:20 They repay me evil for the good I have done;
though I have tried to do good to them, they hurl accusations at me. 1
51:6 Look, 2 you desire 3 integrity in the inner man; 4
you want me to possess wisdom. 5
55:20 He 6 attacks 7 his friends; 8
he breaks his solemn promises to them. 9
71:2 Vindicate me by rescuing me! 10
Listen to me! 11 Deliver me! 12
116:2 and listened to me. 13
As long as I live, I will call to him when I need help. 14
119:159 See how I love your precepts!
O Lord, revive me with your loyal love!
1 tn Heb “the ones who repay evil instead of good accuse me, instead of my pursuing good.”
2 sn The juxtaposition of two occurrences of “look” in vv. 5-6 draws attention to the sharp contrast between the sinful reality of the psalmist’s condition and the lofty ideal God has for him.
3 tn The perfect is used in a generalizing sense here.
4 tn Heb “in the covered [places],” i.e., in the inner man.
5 tn Heb “in the secret [place] wisdom you cause me to know.” The Hiphil verbal form is causative, while the imperfect is used in a modal sense to indicate God’s desire (note the parallel verb “desire”).
3 sn He. This must refer to the psalmist’s former friend, who was addressed previously in vv. 12-14.
4 tn Heb “stretches out his hand against.”
5 tc The form should probably be emended to an active participle (שֹׁלְמָיו, sholÿmayv) from the verbal root שָׁלַם (shalam, “be in a covenant of peace with”). Perhaps the translation “his friends” suggests too intimate a relationship. Another option is to translate, “he attacks those who made agreements with him.”
6 tn Heb “he violates his covenant.”
4 tn Heb “in your vindication rescue me and deliver me.” Ps 31:1 omits “and deliver me.”
5 tn Heb “turn toward me your ear.”
6 tn Ps 31:2 adds “quickly” before “deliver.”
5 tn Heb “because he turned his ear to me.”
6 tn Heb “and in my days I will cry out.”