Psalms 107:39

107:39 As for their enemies, ¹  they decreased in number and were beaten down,

because of painful distress ²  and suffering.

Psalms 31:10

31:10 For my life nears its end in pain;

my years draw to a close as I groan. ³ 

My strength fails me because of ⁴  my sin,

and my bones become brittle. ⁵ 

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.

Psalms 13:2

13:2 How long must I worry, ⁹ 

and suffer in broad daylight? ¹⁰ 

How long will my enemy gloat over me? ¹¹ 

[107:39]  ¹ tn The words “As for their enemies” are not included in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity. Without such clarification, one might think that v. 39 refers to those just mentioned in v. 38 as objects of divine blessing, which would contradict the point just emphasized by the psalmist. The structure of vv. 33-42 is paneled (A-B-A-B). In vv. 33-34 the psalmist describes God’s judgment upon his enemies (perhaps those who had enslaved his people). In vv. 35-38 he contrasts this judgment with the divine blessing poured out on God’s people. (See the note on the word “people” in v. 35.) In vv. 39-40 he contrasts this blessing with the judgment experienced by enemies, before returning in vv. 41-42 to the blessing experienced by God’s people.

[107:39]  ² tn Heb “from the oppression of calamity.”

[31:10]  ³ tn Heb “and my years in groaning.”

[31:10]  ⁴ tn Heb “stumbles in.”

[31:10]  ⁵ tn Heb “grow weak.”

[116:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “surrounded me.”

[116:3]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ tn The translation assumes the prefixed verbal form is a preterite. The psalmist recalls the crisis from which the Lord delivered him.

[13:2]  ⁷ tn Heb “How long will I put counsel in my being?”

[13:2]  ⁸ tn Heb “[with] grief in my heart by day.”

[13:2]  ⁹ tn Heb “be exalted over me.” Perhaps one could translate, “How long will my enemy defeat me?”