Psalms 28:1-5

Context

Psalm 28¹

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 join⁵ those who are descending into the grave.⁶

28:2 Hear my plea for mercy when I cry out to you for help,

when I lift my hands⁷ toward your holy temple!⁸

28:3 Do not drag me away with evil men,

with those who behave wickedly,⁹

who talk so friendly to their neighbors,¹⁰

while they plan to harm them!¹¹

28:4 Pay them back for their evil deeds!

Pay them back for what they do!

Punish them!¹²

28:5 For they do not understand the Lord’s actions,

or the way he carries out justice.¹³

The Lord¹⁴ will permanently demolish them.¹⁵

[28:1] ¹sn 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] ²tn 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] ³tn Heb “do not be deaf from me.”

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

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

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

[28:2] ⁷sn I lift my hands. Lifting one’s hands toward God was a gesture of prayer.

[28:2] ⁸tn The Hebrew term דְּבִיר (dÿvir, “temple”) actually refers to the most holy place within the sanctuary.

[28:3] ⁹tn Heb “workers of wickedness.”

[28:3] ¹⁰tn Heb “speakers of peace with their neighbors.”

[28:3] ¹¹tn Heb “and evil [is] in their heart[s].”

[28:4] ¹²tn Heb “Give to them according to their work, and according to the evil of their deeds. According to the work of their hands give to them. Return their due to them.” The highly repetitive style reflects the psalmist’s agitated emotional state and draws attention to his yearning for justice.

[28:5] ¹³tn Heb “or the work of his hands.” In this context “the Lord’s actions” and “the work of his hands” probably refer to the way he carries out justice by vindicating the godly and punishing the wicked. (Note the final line of the verse, which refers to divine judgment. See also Ps 92:4-7.) Evil men do not “understand” God’s just ways; they fail to realize he will protect the innocent. Consequently they seek to harm the godly, as if they believe they will never be held accountable for their actions.

[28:5] ¹⁴tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord, who is referred to in the two immediately preceding lines) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[28:5] ¹⁵tn Heb “will tear them down and not rebuild them.” The ungodly are compared to a structure that is permanently demolished.