Psalms 119:79

119:79 May your loyal followers ¹  turn to me,

those who know your rules.

Psalms 9:17

9:17 The wicked are turned back and sent to Sheol; ² 

this is the destiny of ³  all the nations that ignore ⁴  God,

Psalms 51:13

51:13 Then I will teach ⁵  rebels your merciful ways, ⁶ 

and sinners will turn ⁷  to you.

Psalms 59:6

59:6 They return in the evening;

they growl ⁸  like a dog

and prowl around outside ⁹  the city.

Psalms 70:3

70:3 May those who say, “Aha! Aha!”

be driven back ¹⁰  and disgraced! ¹¹ 

[119:79]  ¹ tn Heb “those who fear you.”

[9:17]  ² tn Heb “the wicked turn back to Sheol.” The imperfect verbal form either emphasizes what typically happens or describes vividly the aftermath of the Lord’s victory over the psalmist’s enemies. See v. 3.

[9:17]  ³ tn The words “this is the destiny of” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. The verb “are turned back” is understood by ellipsis (see the preceding line).

[9:17]  ⁴ tn Heb “forget.” “Forgetting God” refers here to worshiping false gods and thereby refusing to recognize his sovereignty (see also Deut 8:19; Judg 3:7; 1 Sam 12:9; Isa 17:10; Jer 3:21; Ps 44:20). The nations’ refusal to acknowledge God’s sovereignty accounts for their brazen attempt to attack and destroy his people.

[51:13]  ³ tn The cohortative expresses the psalmist’s resolve. This may be a vow or promise. If forgiven, the psalmist will “repay” the Lord by declaring God’s mercy and motivating other sinners to repent.

[51:13]  ⁴ tn Heb “your ways.” The word “merciful” is added for clarification. God’s “ways” are sometimes his commands, but in this context, where the teaching of God’s ways motivates repentance (see the next line), it is more likely that God’s merciful and compassionate way of dealing with sinners is in view. Thanksgiving songs praising God for his deliverance typically focus on these divine attributes (see Pss 34, 41, 116, 138).

[51:13]  ⁵ tn Or “return,” i.e., in repentance.

[59:6]  ⁴ tn Or “howl”; or “bark.”

[59:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “go around.”

[70:3]  ⁵ tn The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive in this imprecation.

[70:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “May they be turned back according to their shame, those who say, ‘Aha! Aha!’” Ps 40:15 has the verb “humiliated” instead of “turned back” and adds “to me” after “say.”