Psalms 30:9

30:9 “What ¹  profit is there in taking my life, ² 

in my descending into the Pit? ³ 

Can the dust of the grave ⁴  praise you?

Can it declare your loyalty? ⁵ 

Psalms 57:10

57:10 For your loyal love extends beyond the sky, ⁶ 

and your faithfulness reaches the clouds.

Psalms 71:22

71:22 I will express my thanks to you with a stringed instrument,

praising ⁷  your faithfulness, O my God!

I will sing praises to you accompanied by a harp,

O Holy One of Israel! ⁸ 

Psalms 86:16

86:16 Turn toward me and have mercy on me!

Give your servant your strength!

Deliver your slave! ⁹ 

Psalms 108:4

108:4 For your loyal love extends beyond the sky, ¹⁰ 

and your faithfulness reaches the clouds.

Psalms 116:16

116:16 Yes, Lord! I am indeed your servant;

I am your lowest slave. ¹¹ 

You saved me from death. ¹² 

[30:9]  ¹ sn The following two verses (vv. 9-10) contain the prayer (or an excerpt of the prayer) that the psalmist offered to the Lord during his crisis.

[30:9]  ² tn Heb “What profit [is there] in my blood?” “Blood” here represents his life.

[30:9]  ³ tn The Hebrew term שָׁחַת (shakhat, “pit”) is often used as a title for Sheol (see Pss 16:10; 49:9; 55:24; 103:4).

[30:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “dust.” The words “of the grave” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[30:9]  ⁵ tn The rhetorical questions anticipate the answer, “Of course not!”

[57:10]  ⁶ tn Heb “for great upon the sky [or “heavens”] [is] your loyal love.”

[71:22]  ¹¹ tn The word “praising” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[71:22]  ¹² sn The basic sense of the word “holy” is “set apart from that which is commonplace, special, unique.” The Lord’s holiness is first and foremost his transcendent sovereignty as the ruler of the world. He is “set apart” from the world over which he rules. At the same time his holiness encompasses his moral authority, which derives from his royal position. As king he has the right to dictate to his subjects how they are to live; indeed his very own character sets the standard for proper behavior.

[86:16]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “the son of your female servant.” The phrase “son of a female servant” (see also Ps 116:16) is used of a son born to a secondary wife or concubine (Exod 23:12). In some cases the child’s father is the master of the house (see Gen 21:10, 13; Judg 9:18). The use of the expression here certainly does not imply that the Lord has such a secondary wife or concubine! It is used metaphorically and idiomatically to emphasize the psalmist’s humility before the Lord and his status as the Lord’s servant.

[108:4]  ²¹ tn Heb “for great upon the sky [or “heavens”] [is] your loyal love.”

[116:16]  ²⁶ tn Heb “I am your servant, the son of your female servant.” The phrase “son of a female servant” (see also Ps 86:16) is used of a son born to a secondary wife or concubine (Exod 23:12). In some cases the child’s father is the master of the house (see Gen 21:10, 13; Judg 9:18). The use of the expression here certainly does not imply that the Lord has such a secondary wife or concubine! It is used metaphorically and idiomatically to emphasize the psalmist’s humility before the Lord and his status as the Lord’s servant.

[116:16]  ²⁷ tn Heb “you have loosed my bonds.” In this context the imagery refers to deliverance from death (see v. 3).