40:17 I am oppressed and needy! 1
May the Lord pay attention to me! 2
You are my helper and my deliverer!
O my God, do not delay!
69:17 Do not ignore 3 your servant,
for I am in trouble! Answer me right away! 4
A psalm of Asaph.
79:1 O God, foreigners 6 have invaded your chosen land; 7
they have polluted your holy temple
and turned Jerusalem 8 into a heap of ruins.
102:2 Do not ignore me in my time of trouble! 9
Listen to me! 10
When I call out to you, quickly answer me!
143:7 Answer me quickly, Lord!
My strength is fading. 11
Do not reject me, 12
or I will join 13 those descending into the grave. 14
7:21 And why do you not pardon my transgression,
and take away my iniquity?
For now I will lie down in the dust, 15
and you will seek me diligently, 16
but I will be gone.”
1 sn See Pss 35:10; 37:14.
2 tn The prefixed verbal form may be taken as a jussive of prayer (as in the present translation; cf. NIV) or as an imperfect, “The
3 tn Heb “do not hide your face from.” The Hebrew idiom “hide the face” can (1) mean “ignore” (see Pss 10:11; 13:1; 51:9) or (2) carry the stronger idea of “reject” (see Pss 30:7; 88:14).
4 tn Or “quickly.”
5 sn Psalm 79. The author laments how the invading nations have destroyed the temple and city of Jerusalem. He asks God to forgive his people and to pour out his vengeance on those who have mistreated them.
6 tn Or “nations.”
7 tn Heb “have come into your inheritance.”
8 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
9 tn Heb “do not hide your face from me in the day of my trouble.” The idiom “to hide the face” can mean “to ignore” (see Pss 10:11; 13:1; 51:9) or carry the stronger idea of “to reject” (see Pss 29:7; 30:7; 88:14).
10 tn Heb “turn toward me your ear.”
11 tn Heb “my spirit is failing.”
12 tn Heb “do not hide your face from me.” The idiom “hide the face” (1) can mean “ignore” (see Pss 10:11; 13:1; 51:9) or (2) can carry the stronger idea of “reject” (see Pss 30:7; 88:14).
13 tn Heb “I will be equal with.”
14 tn Heb “the pit.” The Hebrew noun בּוֹר (bor, “pit; cistern”) is sometimes used of the grave and/or the realm of the dead. See Ps 28:1.
15 tn The LXX has, “for now I will depart to the earth.”
16 tn The verb שָׁחַר (shakhar) in the Piel has been translated “to seek early in the morning” because of the possible link with the word “dawn.” But the verb more properly means “to seek diligently” (by implication).
17 tn Some argue this should be translated “suddenly.” When vindication comes it will be quick. But the more natural meaning is “soon.” God will not forget his elect and will respond to them. It may be that this verse has a prophetic perspective. In light of the eternity that comes, vindication is soon.
18 sn Will he find faith on earth? The Son of Man is looking for those who continue to believe in him, despite the wait.