Psalms 9:13

9:13 when they prayed: ¹ 

“Have mercy on me, ²  Lord!

See how I am oppressed by those who hate me, ³ 

O one who can snatch me away ⁴  from the gates of death!

Psalms 107:18

107:18 They lost their appetite for all food, ⁵ 

and they drew near the gates of death.

Psalms 116:3

116:3 The ropes of death tightened around me, ⁶ 

the snares ⁷  of Sheol confronted me.

I was confronted ⁸  with trouble and sorrow.

[9:13]  ¹ tn The words “when they prayed,” though not represented in the Hebrew text, are supplied in the translation for clarification. The petition in vv. 13-14 is best understood as the cry for help which the oppressed offered to God when the nations threatened. The Lord answered this request, prompting the present song of thanksgiving.

[9:13]  ² tn Or “show me favor.”

[9:13]  ³ tn Heb “see my misery from the ones who hate me.”

[9:13]  ⁴ tn Heb “one who lifts me up.”

[107:18]  ⁵ tn Heb “all food their appetite loathed.”

[116:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “surrounded me.”

[116:3]  ⁷ tn The Hebrew noun מצר (“straits; distress”) occurs only here, Ps 118:5 and Lam 1:3. If retained, it refers to Sheol as a place where one is confined or severely restricted (cf. BDB 865 s.v. מֵצַר, “the straits of Sheol”; NIV “the anguish of the grave”; NRSV “the pangs of Sheol”). However, HALOT 624 s.v. מֵצַר suggests an emendation to מְצָדֵי (mÿtsadey, “snares of”), a rare noun attested in Job 19:6 and Eccl 7:26. This proposal, which is reflected in the translation, produces better parallelism with “ropes” in the preceding line.

[116:3]  ⁸ tn The translation assumes the prefixed verbal form is a preterite. The psalmist recalls the crisis from which the Lord delivered him.