Psalms 28:1

Psalm 28 ¹ 

By David.

28:1 To you, O Lord, I cry out!

My protector, ²  do not ignore me! ³ 

If you do not respond to me, ⁴ 

I will join ⁵  those who are descending into the grave. ⁶ 

Psalms 39:12

39:12 Hear my prayer, O Lord!

Listen to my cry for help!

Do not ignore my sobbing! ⁷ 

For I am dependent on you, like one residing outside his native land;

I am at your mercy, just as all my ancestors were. ⁸ 

Psalms 54:1

Psalm 54 ⁹ 

For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a well-written song ¹⁰  by David. It was written when the Ziphites came and informed Saul: “David is hiding with us.” ¹¹ 

54:1 O God, deliver me by your name! ¹² 

Vindicate me ¹³  by your power!

Psalms 104:25

104:25 Over here is the deep, wide sea, ¹⁴ 

which teems with innumerable swimming creatures, ¹⁵ 

living things both small and large.

Psalms 126:2

126:2 At that time we laughed loudly

and shouted for joy. ¹⁶ 

At that time the nations said, ¹⁷ 

“The Lord has accomplished great things for these people.”

Psalms 143:7

143:7 Answer me quickly, Lord!

My strength is fading. ¹⁸ 

Do not reject me, ¹⁹ 

or I will join ²⁰  those descending into the grave. ²¹ 

[28:1]  ¹ sn Psalm 28. The author looks to the Lord for vindication, asks that the wicked be repaid in full for their evil deeds, and affirms his confidence that the Lord will protect his own.

[28:1]  ² tn Heb “my rocky summit.” The Lord is compared to a rocky summit where one can find protection from enemies. See Ps 18:2.

[28:1]  ³ tn Heb “do not be deaf from me.”

[28:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “lest [if] you are silent from me.”

[28:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “I will be equal with.”

[28:1]  ⁶ tn Heb “the pit.” The noun בּוֹר (bor, “pit, cistern”) is sometimes used of the grave and/or the realm of the dead.

[39:12]  ⁷ tn Heb “do not be deaf to my tears.”

[39:12]  ⁸ tn Heb “For a resident alien [am] I with you, a sojourner like all my fathers.”

[54:1]  ¹³ sn Psalm 54. The psalmist asks God for protection against his enemies, confidently affirms that God will vindicate him, and promises to give thanks to God for his saving intervention.

[54:1]  ¹⁴ tn The meaning of the Hebrew term מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is uncertain. See the note on the phrase “well-written song” in the superscription of Ps 52.

[54:1]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “Is not David hiding with us?”

[54:1]  ¹⁶ tn God’s “name” refers here to his reputation and revealed character, which would instill fear in the psalmist’s enemies (see C. A. Briggs and E. G. Briggs, Psalms [ICC], 2:17).

[54:1]  ¹⁷ tn The imperfect verbal form is used here to express the psalmist’s wish or request.

[104:25]  ¹⁹ tn Heb “this [is] the sea, great and broad of hands [i.e., “sides” or “shores”].”

[104:25]  ²⁰ tn Heb “where [there are] swimming things, and without number.”

[126:2]  ²⁵ tn Heb “then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with a shout.”

[126:2]  ²⁶ tn Heb “they said among the nations.”

[143:7]  ³¹ tn Heb “my spirit is failing.”

[143:7]  ³² tn Heb “do not hide your face from me.” The idiom “hide the face” (1) can mean “ignore” (see Pss 10:11; 13:1; 51:9) or (2) can carry the stronger idea of “reject” (see Pss 30:7; 88:14).

[143:7]  ³³ tn Heb “I will be equal with.”

[143:7]  ³⁴ tn Heb “the pit.” The Hebrew noun בּוֹר (bor, “pit; cistern”) is sometimes used of the grave and/or the realm of the dead. See Ps 28:1.