Psalms 35:1

Psalm 35 ¹ 

By David.

35:1 O Lord, fight ²  those who fight with me!

Attack those who attack me!

Psalms 41:9

41:9 Even my close friend ³  whom I trusted,

he who shared meals with me, has turned against me. ⁴ 

Psalms 102:4

102:4 My heart is parched ⁵  and withered like grass,

for I am unable ⁶  to eat food. ⁷ 

[35:1]  ¹ sn Psalm 35. The author, who faces ruthless enemies who seek his life for no reason, begs the Lord to fight his battles for him and to vindicate him by annihilating his adversaries.

[35:1]  ² tn Or “contend.”

[41:9]  ³ tn Heb “man of my peace.” The phrase here refers to one’s trusted friend (see Jer 38:22; Obad 7).

[41:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “has made a heel great against me.” The precise meaning of this phrase, which appears only here, is uncertain.

[102:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “struck, attacked.”

[102:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “I forget.”

[102:4]  ⁷ sn I am unable to eat food. During his time of mourning, the psalmist refrained from eating. In the following verse he describes metaphorically the physical effects of fasting.