Psalms 17:1

Psalm 17 ¹ 

A prayer of David.

17:1 Lord, consider my just cause! ² 

Pay attention to my cry for help!

Listen to the prayer

I sincerely offer! ³ 

Psalms 50:7

50:7 He says: ⁴ 

“Listen my people! I am speaking!

Listen Israel! I am accusing you! ⁵ 

I am God, your God!

Psalms 61:1

Psalm 61 ⁶ 

For the music director; to be played on a stringed instrument; written by David.

61:1 O God, hear my cry for help!

Pay attention to my prayer!

Psalms 84:8

84:8 O Lord, sovereign God, ⁷ 

hear my prayer!

Listen, O God of Jacob! (Selah)

Psalms 97:8

97:8 Zion hears and rejoices,

the towns ⁸  of Judah are happy,

because of your judgments, O Lord.

[17:1]  ¹ sn Psalm 17. The psalmist asks God to intervene on his behalf because his life is threatened by dangerous enemies. He appeals to divine justice, for he is certain of his own innocence. Because he is innocent, he expects to encounter God and receive an assuring word.

[17:1]  ² tn Heb “hear, Lord, what is just.”

[17:1]  ³ tn Heb “Listen to my prayer, [made] without lips of deceit.”

[50:7]  ⁴ tn The words “he says” are supplied in the translation for clarification. God’s charges against his people follow.

[50:7]  ⁵ tn Heb “Israel, and I will testify against you.” The imperative “listen” is understood in the second line by ellipsis (note the preceding line).

[61:1]  ⁷ sn Psalm 61. The psalmist cries out for help and expresses his confidence that God will protect him.

[84:8]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “Lord, God, hosts.” One expects the construct form אֱלֹהֵי before צְבָאוֹת (tsÿva’ot, “hosts”; see Ps 89:9) but יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים (yehvah ’elohim) precedes צְבָאוֹת in Pss 59:5 and 80:4, 19 as well.

[97:8]  ¹³ tn Heb “daughters.” The term “daughters” refers to the cities of Judah surrounding Zion (see Ps 48:11 and H. Haag, TDOT 2:336).