Psalms 118:4-7

Context

118:4 Let the loyal followers of the Lord¹ say,

“Yes, his loyal love endures!”

118:5 In my distress² I cried out to the Lord.

The Lord answered me and put me in a wide open place.³

118:6 The Lord is on my side,⁴ I am not afraid!

What can people do to me?⁵

118:7 The Lord is on my side⁶ as my helper.⁷

I look in triumph on those who hate me.

[118:4] ¹tn Heb “fearers of the Lord.” See Ps 15:4.

[118:5] ²tn Heb “from the distress.” The noun מֵצַר (metsar, “straits; distress”) occurs only here and in Lam 1:3. In Ps 116:3 מצר should probably be emended to מְצָדֵי (mÿtsadey, “snares of”).

[118:5] ³tn Heb “the Lord answered me in a wide open place.”

[118:6] ⁴tn Heb “for me.”

[118:6] ⁵tn The rhetorical question assumes the answer, “Nothing!” The imperfect is used in a modal sense here, indicating capability or potential. See Ps 56:11.

[118:7] ⁶tn Heb “for me.”

[118:7] ⁷tn Heb “among my helpers.” The preposition may indicate identity here, while the plural may be one of majesty or respect.