Proverbs 14:21

14:21 The one who despises his neighbor sins,

but whoever is kind to the needy is blessed.

Proverbs 14:31

14:31 The one who oppresses ¹  the poor insults ²  his Creator,

but whoever shows favor ³  to the needy honors him.

Psalms 69:9

69:9 Certainly ⁴  zeal for ⁵  your house ⁶  consumes me;

I endure the insults of those who insult you. ⁷ 

Psalms 69:1

Psalm 69 ⁸ 

For the music director; according to the tune of “Lilies;” ⁹  by David.

69:1 Deliver me, O God,

for the water has reached my neck. ¹⁰ 

Psalms 3:1

Psalm 3 ¹¹ 

A psalm of David, written when he fled from his son Absalom. ¹² 

3:1 Lord, how ¹³  numerous are my enemies!

Many attack me. ¹⁴ 

[14:31]  ¹ tn The verb עָשַׁק (’ashaq) normally means “to oppress” (as in many English versions). However, here it might mean “to slander.” See J. A. Emerton, “Notes on Some Passages in the Book of Proverbs,” JTS 20 (1969): 202-22.

[14:31]  ² sn In the Piel this verb has the meaning of “to reproach; to taunt; to say sharp things against” someone (cf. NIV “shows contempt for”). By oppressing the poor one taunts or mistreats God because that person is in the image of God – hence the reference to the “Creator.” To ridicule what God made is to ridicule God himself.

[14:31]  ³ sn The phrase “shows favor” is contrasted with the term “oppresses.” To “show favor” means to be gracious to (or treat kindly) those who do not deserve it or cannot repay it. It is treatment that is gratis. This honors God because he commanded it to be done (Prov 14:21; 17:5; 19:17).

[69:9]  ⁴ tn Or “for.” This verse explains that the psalmist’s suffering is due to his allegiance to God.

[69:9]  ⁵ tn Or “devotion to.”

[69:9]  ⁶ sn God’s house, the temple, here represents by metonymy God himself.

[69:9]  ⁷ tn Heb “the insults of those who insult you fall upon me.”

[69:1]  ⁸ sn Psalm 69. The psalmist laments his oppressed condition and asks the Lord to deliver him by severely judging his enemies.

[69:1]  ⁹ tn Heb “according to lilies.” See the superscription to Ps 45.

[69:1]  ¹⁰ tn The Hebrew term נפשׁ (nefesh) here refers to the psalmist’s throat or neck. The psalmist compares himself to a helpless, drowning man.

[3:1]  ¹¹ sn Psalm 3. The psalmist acknowledges that he is confronted by many enemies (vv. 1-2). But, alluding to a divine oracle he has received (vv. 4-5), he affirms his confidence in God’s ability to protect him (vv. 3, 6) and requests that God make his promise a reality (vv. 7-8).

[3:1]  ¹² sn According to Jewish tradition, David offered this prayer when he was forced to flee from Jerusalem during his son Absalom’s attempted coup (see 2 Sam 15:13-17).

[3:1]  ¹³ tn The Hebrew term מָה (mah, “how”) is used here as an adverbial exclamation (see BDB 553 s.v.).

[3:1]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “many rise up against me.”