Psalms 25:18

25:18 See my pain and suffering!

Forgive all my sins! ¹ 

Psalms 107:10

107:10 They sat in utter darkness, ² 

bound in painful iron chains, ³ 

Psalms 107:41

107:41 Yet he protected ⁴  the needy from oppression,

and cared for his families like a flock of sheep.

Psalms 119:50

119:50 This ⁵  is what comforts me in my trouble,

for your promise revives me. ⁶ 

Psalms 119:92

119:92 If I had not found encouragement in your law, ⁷ 

I would have died in my sorrow. ⁸ 

[25:18]  ¹ tn Heb “lift up all my sins.”

[107:10]  ² tn Heb “those who sat in darkness and deep darkness.” Synonyms are joined here to emphasize the degree of “darkness” experienced by the exiles. The Hebrew term צַלְמָוֶת (tsalmavet, “deep darkness”) has traditionally been understood as a compound noun, meaning “shadow of death” (צֵל + מָוֶת [tsel + mavet]; see BDB 853 s.v. צַלְמָוֶת; cf. NASB). Other authorities prefer to vocalize the form צַלְמוּת (tsalmut) and understand it as an abstract noun (from the root צלם) meaning “darkness.” An examination of the word’s usage favors the latter derivation. It is frequently associated with darkness/night and contrasted with light/morning (see Job 3:5; 10:21-22; 12:22; 24:17; 28:3; 34:22; Ps 107:10, 14; Isa 9:1; Jer 13:16; Amos 5:8). In some cases the darkness described is associated with the realm of death (Job 10:21-22; 38:17), but this is a metaphorical application of the word and does not reflect its inherent meaning. In Ps 107:10 the word refers metonymically to a dungeon, which in turn metaphorically depicts the place of Israel’s exile (see vv. 2-3).

[107:10]  ³ tn Heb “those bound in suffering and iron.” “Suffering and iron” is a hendiadys (like English “good and angry”), where both words contribute to one idea. In this case the first word characterizes the second; the iron (chains) contribute to the prisoners’ pain and suffering.

[107:41]  ³ tn Heb “set on high.”

[119:50]  ⁴ tn The demonstrative “this” refers back to the hope just mentioned or forward to the statement in the second line concerning the promise’s power to revive. See the note on the word “me” at the end of the verse for further discussion.

[119:50]  ⁵ tn The hope generated by the promise (see v. 49b) brings comfort because (note “for” at the beginning of the line) the promise revives the psalmist’s spirits. Another option is to take כִּי (ki) at the beginning of the second line in the sense of “that,” in which case “this” refers to the promise’s power to revive.

[119:92]  ⁵ tn Heb “if your law had not been my delight.”

[119:92]  ⁶ tn Or “my suffering.”