Psalms 107:11

107:11 because they had rebelled against God’s commands, ¹ 

and rejected the instructions of the sovereign king. ² 

Psalms 141:6

141:6 They will be thrown down the side of a cliff by their judges. ³ 

They ⁴  will listen to my words, for they are pleasant.

Psalms 5:1

Psalm 5 ⁵ 

For the music director, to be accompanied by wind instruments; ⁶  a psalm of David.

5:1 Listen to what I say, ⁷  Lord!

Carefully consider my complaint! ⁸ 

Psalms 19:14

19:14 May my words and my thoughts

be acceptable in your sight, ⁹ 

O Lord, my sheltering rock ¹⁰  and my redeemer. ¹¹ 

Psalms 138:4

138:4 Let all the kings of the earth give thanks ¹²  to you, O Lord,

when they hear the words you speak. ¹³ 

[107:11]  ¹ tn Heb “the words of God.”

[107:11]  ² tn Heb “the counsel of the Most High.”

[141:6]  ³ tn Heb “they are thrown down by the hands of a cliff, their judges.” The syntax of the Hebrew text is difficult and the meaning uncertain. The perfect verbal form is understood as rhetorical; the psalmist describes the anticipated downfall of the wicked as if it had already occurred. “Their judges” could be taken as the subject of the verb, but this makes little, if any, sense. The translation assumes the judges are the agents and that the wicked, mentioned earlier in the psalm, are the subjects of the verb.

[141:6]  ⁴ tn It is unclear how this statement relates to the preceding sentence. Perhaps the judges are the referent of the pronominal subject (“they”) of the verb “will listen,” and “my words” are the referent of the pronominal subject (“they”) of the phrase “are pleasant.” The psalmist may be affirming here his confidence that he will be vindicated when he presents his case before the judges, while the wicked will be punished.

[5:1]  ⁵ sn Psalm 5. Appealing to God’s justice and commitment to the godly, the psalmist asks the Lord to intervene and deliver him from evildoers.

[5:1]  ⁶ tn The meaning of the Hebrew word נְחִילוֹת (nÿkhilot), which occurs only here, is uncertain. Many relate the form to חָלִיל (khalil, “flute”).

[5:1]  ⁷ tn Heb “my words.”

[5:1]  ⁸ tn Or “sighing.” The word occurs only here and in Ps 39:3.

[19:14]  ⁷ tn Heb “may the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart be acceptable before you.” The prefixed verbal form at the beginning of the verse is understood as a jussive of prayer. Another option is to translate the form as an imperfect continuing the thought of v. 14b: “[Then] the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart will be acceptable before you.”

[19:14]  ⁸ tn Heb “my rocky cliff,” which is a metaphor for protection; thus the translation “sheltering rock.”

[19:14]  ⁹ tn Heb “and the one who redeems me.” The metaphor casts the Lord in the role of a leader who protects members of his extended family in times of need and crisis.

[138:4]  ⁹ tn The prefixed verbal forms here and in the following verse are understood as jussives, for the psalmist appears to be calling upon the kings to praise God. Another option is to take them as imperfects and translate, “the kings of the earth will give thanks…and will sing.” In this case the psalmist anticipates a universal response to his thanksgiving song.

[138:4]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “the words of your mouth.”