Psalms 3:1

Context

Psalm 3¹

A psalm of David, written when he fled from his son Absalom.²

3:1 Lord, how³ numerous are my enemies!

Many attack me.⁴

Psalms 31:13

Context

31:13 For I hear what so many are saying,⁵

the terrifying news that comes from every direction.⁶

When they plot together against me,

they figure out how they can take my life.

Psalms 32:6

Context

32:6 For this reason every one of your faithful followers⁷ should pray to you

while there is a window of opportunity.⁸

Certainly⁹ when the surging water¹⁰ rises,

it will not reach them.¹¹

[3:1] ¹sn Psalm 3. The psalmist acknowledges that he is confronted by many enemies (vv. 1-2). But, alluding to a divine oracle he has received (vv. 4-5), he affirms his confidence in God’s ability to protect him (vv. 3, 6) and requests that God make his promise a reality (vv. 7-8).

[3:1] ²sn According to Jewish tradition, David offered this prayer when he was forced to flee from Jerusalem during his son Absalom’s attempted coup (see 2 Sam 15:13-17).

[3:1] ³tn The Hebrew term מָה (mah, “how”) is used here as an adverbial exclamation (see BDB 553 s.v.).

[3:1] ⁴tn Heb “many rise up against me.”

[31:13] ⁵tn Heb “the report of many.”

[31:13] ⁶tn Heb “the terror from all around.”

[32:6] ⁹tn A “faithful follower” (חָסִיד, khasid) is one who does what is right in God’s eyes and remains faithful to God (see Pss 4:3; 12:1; 18:25; 31:23; 37:28; 86:2; 97:10).

[32:6] ¹⁰tn Heb “at a time of finding.” This may mean, “while there is time to ‘find’ [the Lord]” and seek his forgiveness (cf. NIV). Some emend the text by combining מְצֹא (mÿtso’, “finding”) with the following term רַק (raq, “only, surely”) and read either ר[וֹ]מָצ (matsor, “distress”; see Ps 31:22) or ק[וֹ]מָצ (matsoq, “hardship”; see Ps 119:143). In this case, one may translate “in a time of distress/hardship” (cf. NEB, NRSV).

[32:6] ¹¹tn The Hebrew term רַק (raq) occasionally has an asseverative force.

[32:6] ¹²sn The surging water is here a metaphor for trouble that endangers one’s life.

[32:6] ¹³tn Heb “him.” The translation uses the plural “them” to agree with the plural “every one of your faithful followers” in the first line of v. 6.