Psalms 71:9-13

71:9 Do not reject me in my old age!

When my strength fails, do not abandon me!

71:10 For my enemies talk about me;

those waiting for a chance to kill me plot my demise.

71:11 They say, “God has abandoned him.

Run and seize him, for there is no one who will rescue him!”

71:12 O God, do not remain far away from me!

My God, hurry and help me!

71:13 May my accusers be humiliated and defeated!

May those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace!

Psalms 109:29

109:29 My accusers will be covered with shame,

and draped in humiliation as if it were a robe.

Micah 7:8-10

Jerusalem Will Be Vindicated

7:8 My enemies, do not gloat over me!

Though I have fallen, I will get up.

Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.

7:9 I must endure 10  the Lord’s anger,

for I have sinned against him.

But then 11  he will defend my cause, 12 

and accomplish justice on my behalf.

He will lead me out into the light;

I will experience firsthand 13  his deliverance. 14 

7:10 When my enemies see this, they will be covered with shame.

They say 15  to me, “Where is the Lord your God?”

I will gloat over them. 16 

Then they will be trampled down 17 

like mud in the streets.


tn Heb “do not cast me away at the time of old age.”

tn Heb “those who watch for my life consult together.”

tn Heb “saying.”

tn Heb “hurry to my help.”

tn Heb “those who seek my harm.”

tn Heb “clothed.” Another option is to translate the prefixed verbal forms in this line and the next as jussives (“may my accusers be covered with shame”).

tn The singular form is understood as collective.

tn Or “rejoice” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NRSV); NCV “don’t laugh at me.”

sn Darkness represents judgment; light (also in v. 9) symbolizes deliverance. The Lord is the source of the latter.

10 tn Heb “lift, bear.”

11 tn Heb “until.”

12 tn Or “plead my case” (NASB and NIV both similar); NRSV “until he takes my side.”

13 tn Heb “see.”

14 tn Or “justice, vindication.”

15 tn Heb “who say.” A new sentence was begun here in the translation for stylistic reasons.

16 tn Heb “My eyes will look on them.”

17 tn Heb “a trampled-down place.”