Psalms 2:3

2:3 They say, ¹  “Let’s tear off the shackles they’ve put on us! ² 

Let’s free ourselves from ³  their ropes!”

Psalms 107:14

107:14 He brought them out of the utter darkness, ⁴ 

and tore off their shackles.

Psalms 116:16

116:16 Yes, Lord! I am indeed your servant;

I am your lowest slave. ⁵ 

You saved me from death. ⁶ 

[2:3]  ¹ tn The words “they say” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The quotation represents the words of the rebellious kings.

[2:3]  ² tn Heb “their (i.e., the Lord’s and the king’s) shackles.” The kings compare the rule of the Lord and his vice-regent to being imprisoned.

[2:3]  ³ tn Heb “throw off from us.”

[107:14]  ⁴ tn Heb “darkness and deep darkness.” See the note on the word “darkness” in v. 10.

[116:16]  ⁷ tn Heb “I am your servant, the son of your female servant.” The phrase “son of a female servant” (see also Ps 86:16) is used of a son born to a secondary wife or concubine (Exod 23:12). In some cases the child’s father is the master of the house (see Gen 21:10, 13; Judg 9:18). The use of the expression here certainly does not imply that the Lord has such a secondary wife or concubine! It is used metaphorically and idiomatically to emphasize the psalmist’s humility before the Lord and his status as the Lord’s servant.

[116:16]  ⁸ tn Heb “you have loosed my bonds.” In this context the imagery refers to deliverance from death (see v. 3).