Psalms 86:17

86:17 Show me evidence of your favor!

Then those who hate me will see it and be ashamed,

for you, O Lord, will help me and comfort me.

Psalms 90:13-15

90:13 Turn back toward us, O Lord!

How long must this suffering last?

Have pity on your servants!

90:14 Satisfy us in the morning with your loyal love!

Then we will shout for joy and be happy all our days!

90:15 Make us happy in proportion to the days you have afflicted us,

in proportion to the years we have experienced trouble!


tn Heb “Work with me a sign for good.” The expression “work a sign” also occurs in Judg 6:17.

tn After the imperative in the preceding line (“work”), the prefixed verb forms with prefixed vav (ו) conjunctive indicate purpose or result.

tn The perfect verbal forms are understood here as dramatic/rhetorical, expressing the psalmist’s certitude that such a sign from the Lord will be followed by his intervention. Another option is to understand the forms as future perfects (“for you, O Lord, will have helped me and comforted me”).

tn Heb “Return, O Lord! How long?”

tn Elsewhere the Niphal of נָחַם (nakham) + the preposition עַל (’al) + a personal object has the nuance “be comforted concerning [the personal object’s death]” (see 2 Sam 13:39; Jer 31:15). However, here the context seems to demand “feel sorrow for,” “have pity on.” In Deut 32:36 and Ps 135:14, where “servants” is also the object of the preposition, this idea is expressed with the Hitpael form of the verb.

sn Morning is used metaphorically for a time of renewed joy after affliction (see Pss 30:5; 46:5; 49:14; 59:16; 143:8).

tn After the imperative (see the preceding line) the cohortatives with the prefixed conjunction indicate purpose/result.

tn Heb “have seen.”