Psalms 129:5

129:5 May all who hate Zion

be humiliated and turned back!

Psalms 38:19

38:19 But those who are my enemies for no reason are numerous; ¹ 

those who hate me without cause outnumber me. ² 

Psalms 35:19

35:19 Do not let those who are my enemies for no reason ³  gloat ⁴  over me!

Do not let those who hate me without cause carry out their wicked schemes! ⁵ 

Psalms 41:7

41:7 All who hate me whisper insults about me to one another; ⁶ 

they plan ways to harm me.

Psalms 86:17

86:17 Show me evidence of your favor! ⁷ 

Then those who hate me will see it and be ashamed, ⁸ 

for you, O Lord, will help me and comfort me. ⁹ 

[38:19]  ¹ tn Heb “and my enemies, life, are many.” The noun חַיִּים (khayyim, “life”) fits very awkwardly here. The translation assumes an emendation to חִנָּם (khinam, “without reason”; note the parallelism with שֶׁקֶר [sheqer, “falsely”] and see Pss 35:19; 69:4; Lam 3:52). The verb עָצַם (’atsam) can sometimes mean “are strong,” but here it probably focuses on numerical superiority (note the parallel verb רָבַב, ravav, “be many”).

[38:19]  ² tn Heb “are many.”

[35:19]  ¹ tn Heb “[with] a lie.” The Hebrew noun שֶׁקֶר (sheqer, “lie”) is used here as an adverb, “falsely, wrongfully” (see Ps 38:19).

[35:19]  ² tn Heb “rejoice.”

[35:19]  ³ tn Heb “[do not let] those who hate me without cause pinch [i.e., wink] an eye.” The negative particle is understood in the second line by ellipsis (see the preceding line). In the Book of Proverbs “winking an eye” is associated with deceit and trickery (see 6:13; 10:10; 16:30).

[41:7]  ¹ tn Heb “together against me they whisper, all those who hate me.” The Hitpael of לָחַשׁ (lakhash) refers here to whispering to one another (see 2 Sam 12:19).

[86:17]  ¹ tn Heb “Work with me a sign for good.” The expression “work a sign” also occurs in Judg 6:17.

[86:17]  ² tn After the imperative in the preceding line (“work”), the prefixed verb forms with prefixed vav (ו) conjunctive indicate purpose or result.

[86:17]  ³ tn The perfect verbal forms are understood here as dramatic/rhetorical, expressing the psalmist’s certitude that such a sign from the Lord will be followed by his intervention. Another option is to understand the forms as future perfects (“for you, O Lord, will have helped me and comforted me”).