Psalms 44:14

44:14 You made us ¹  an object of ridicule ²  among the nations;

foreigners treat us with contempt. ³ 

Psalms 69:21

69:21 They put bitter poison ⁴  into my food,

and to quench my thirst they give me vinegar to drink. ⁵ 

Psalms 83:2

83:2 For look, your enemies are making a commotion;

those who hate you are hostile. ⁶ 

Psalms 110:7

110:7 From the stream along the road he drinks;

then he lifts up his head. ⁷ 

Psalms 119:160

119:160 Your instructions are totally reliable;

all your just regulations endure. ⁸ 

Psalms 140:9

140:9 As for the heads of those who surround me –

may the harm done by ⁹  their lips overwhelm them!

[44:14]  ¹ tn The prefixed verbal form is a preterite (without vav [ו] consecutive).

[44:14]  ² tn Heb “a proverb,” or “[the subject of] a mocking song.”

[44:14]  ³ tn Heb “a shaking of the head among the peoples.” Shaking the head was a derisive gesture (see Jer 18:16; Lam 2:15).

[69:21]  ⁴ tn According to BDB 912 s.v. II רֹאשׁ the term can mean “a bitter and poisonous plant.”

[69:21]  ⁵ sn John 19:28-30 appears to understand Jesus’ experience on the cross as a fulfillment of this passage (or Ps 22:15). See the study note on the word “thirsty” in John 19:28.

[83:2]  ⁷ tn Heb “lift up [their] head[s].” The phrase “lift up [the] head” here means “to threaten; to be hostile,” as in Judg 8:28.

[110:7]  ¹⁰ tn Here the expression “lifts up the head” refers to the renewed physical strength and emotional vigor (see Ps 3:3) provided by the refreshing water. For another example of a victorious warrior being energized by water in the aftermath of battle, see Judg 15:18-19 (see also 1 Sam 30:11-12, where the setting is different, however).

[119:160]  ¹³ tn Heb “the head of your word is truth, and forever [is] all your just regulation.” The term “head” is used here of the “sum total” of God’s instructions.

[140:9]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “harm of their lips.” The genitive here indicates the source or agent of the harm.