Psalms 38:20

38:20 They repay me evil for the good I have done;

though I have tried to do good to them, they hurl accusations at me. ¹ 

Psalms 51:6

51:6 Look, ²  you desire ³  integrity in the inner man; ⁴ 

you want me to possess wisdom. ⁵ 

Psalms 55:20

55:20 He ⁶  attacks ⁷  his friends; ⁸ 

he breaks his solemn promises to them. ⁹ 

Psalms 71:2

71:2 Vindicate me by rescuing me! ¹⁰ 

Listen to me! ¹¹  Deliver me! ¹² 

Psalms 116:2

116:2 and listened to me. ¹³ 

As long as I live, I will call to him when I need help. ¹⁴ 

Psalms 119:159

119:159 See how I love your precepts!

O Lord, revive me with your loyal love!

[38:20]  ¹ tn Heb “the ones who repay evil instead of good accuse me, instead of my pursuing good.”

[51:6]  ² sn The juxtaposition of two occurrences of “look” in vv. 5-6 draws attention to the sharp contrast between the sinful reality of the psalmist’s condition and the lofty ideal God has for him.

[51:6]  ³ tn The perfect is used in a generalizing sense here.

[51:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “in the covered [places],” i.e., in the inner man.

[51:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “in the secret [place] wisdom you cause me to know.” The Hiphil verbal form is causative, while the imperfect is used in a modal sense to indicate God’s desire (note the parallel verb “desire”).

[55:20]  ³ sn He. This must refer to the psalmist’s former friend, who was addressed previously in vv. 12-14.

[55:20]  ⁴ tn Heb “stretches out his hand against.”

[55:20]  ⁵ tc The form should probably be emended to an active participle (שֹׁלְמָיו, sholÿmayv) from the verbal root שָׁלַם (shalam, “be in a covenant of peace with”). Perhaps the translation “his friends” suggests too intimate a relationship. Another option is to translate, “he attacks those who made agreements with him.”

[55:20]  ⁶ tn Heb “he violates his covenant.”

[71:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “in your vindication rescue me and deliver me.” Ps 31:1 omits “and deliver me.”

[71:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “turn toward me your ear.”

[71:2]  ⁶ tn Ps 31:2 adds “quickly” before “deliver.”

[116:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “because he turned his ear to me.”

[116:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “and in my days I will cry out.”