Psalms 4:2

4:2 You men, ¹  how long will you try to turn my honor into shame? ² 

How long ³  will you love what is worthless ⁴ 

and search for what is deceptive? ⁵  (Selah)

Psalms 13:2

13:2 How long must I worry, ⁶ 

and suffer in broad daylight? ⁷ 

How long will my enemy gloat over me? ⁸ 

Psalms 89:46

89:46 How long, O Lord, will this last?

Will you remain hidden forever? ⁹ 

Will your anger continue to burn like fire?

[4:2]  ¹ tn Heb “sons of man.”

[4:2]  ² tn Heb “how long my honor to shame?”

[4:2]  ³ tn The interrogative construction עַד־מֶה (’ad-meh, “how long?”), is understood by ellipsis in the second line.

[4:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “emptiness.”

[4:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “a lie.” Some see the metonymic language of v. 2b (“emptiness, lie”) as referring to idols or false gods. However, there is no solid immediate contextual evidence for such an interpretation. It is more likely that the psalmist addresses those who threaten him (see v. 1) and refers in a general way to their sinful lifestyle. (See R. Mosis, TDOT 7:121.) The two terms allude to the fact that sinful behavior is ultimately fruitless and self-destructive.

[13:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “How long will I put counsel in my being?”

[13:2]  ⁷ tn Heb “[with] grief in my heart by day.”

[13:2]  ⁸ tn Heb “be exalted over me.” Perhaps one could translate, “How long will my enemy defeat me?”

[89:46]  ¹¹ tn Heb “How long, O Lord, will hide yourself forever?”