Psalms 22:11

22:11 Do not remain far away from me,

for trouble is near and I have no one to help me. ¹ 

Psalms 34:18

34:18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted;

he delivers ²  those who are discouraged. ³ 

Psalms 38:11

38:11 Because of my condition, ⁴  even my friends and acquaintances keep their distance; ⁵ 

my neighbors stand far away. ⁶ 

Psalms 148:14

148:14 He has made his people victorious, ⁷ 

and given all his loyal followers reason to praise –

the Israelites, the people who are close to him. ⁸ 

Praise the Lord!

[22:11]  ¹ tn Heb “and there is no helper.”

[34:18]  ² tn The Hebrew imperfect verbal form highlights the generalizing statement and draws attention to the fact that the Lord typically delivers the oppressed and needy.

[34:18]  ³ tn Heb “the crushed in spirit.”

[38:11]  ³ tn Or “wound,” or “illness.”

[38:11]  ⁴ tn Heb “stand [aloof].”

[38:11]  ⁵ tn Heb “and the ones near me off at a distance stand.”

[148:14]  ⁴ tn Heb “and he lifted up a horn for his people.” The horn of an ox underlies the metaphor (see Deut 33:17; 1 Kgs 22:11; Ps 92:10). The horn of the wild ox is frequently a metaphor for military strength; the idiom “exalt/lift up the horn” signifies military victory (see 1 Sam 2:10; Pss 75:10; 89:17, 24; 92:10; Lam 2:17). Another option is to take the “horn” as a symbol for the Davidic king, through whom the Lord gives his people military victory.

[148:14]  ⁵ tn “[there is] praise for all his loyal followers, to the sons of Israel, the people near him.” Here “praise” stands by metonymy for the victory that prompts it.