Discovery BoxPsalms 5:1
ContextFor the music director, to be accompanied by wind instruments; 2 a psalm of David.
5:1 Listen to what I say, 3 Lord!
Carefully consider my complaint! 4
Psalms 17:1
ContextA prayer of David.
17:1 Lord, consider my just cause! 6
Pay attention to my cry for help!
Listen to the prayer
I sincerely offer! 7
Psalms 49:1
ContextFor the music director, a psalm by the Korahites.
49:1 Listen to this, all you nations!
Pay attention, all you inhabitants of the world! 9
Psalms 55:1
ContextFor the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a well-written song 11 by David.
55:1 Listen, O God, to my prayer!
Do not ignore 12 my appeal for mercy!
Psalms 78:1
ContextA well-written song 14 by Asaph.
78:1 Pay attention, my people, to my instruction!
Listen to the words I speak! 15
Psalms 84:8
Context84:8 O Lord, sovereign God, 16
hear my prayer!
Listen, O God of Jacob! (Selah)
Psalms 135:17
Context135:17 and ears, but cannot hear.
Indeed, they cannot breathe. 17
Psalms 140:6
Context140:6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”
O Lord, pay attention to my plea for mercy!
Psalms 141:1
ContextA psalm of David.
141:1 O Lord, I cry out to you. Come quickly to me!
Pay attention to me when I cry out to you!
Psalms 143:1
ContextA psalm of David.
143:1 O Lord, hear my prayer!
Pay attention to my plea for help!
Because of your faithfulness and justice, answer me!
[5:1] 1 sn Psalm 5. Appealing to God’s justice and commitment to the godly, the psalmist asks the Lord to intervene and deliver him from evildoers.
[5:1] 2 tn The meaning of the Hebrew word נְחִילוֹת (nÿkhilot), which occurs only here, is uncertain. Many relate the form to חָלִיל (khalil, “flute”).
[5:1] 4 tn Or “sighing.” The word occurs only here and in Ps 39:3.
[17:1] 5 sn Psalm 17. The psalmist asks God to intervene on his behalf because his life is threatened by dangerous enemies. He appeals to divine justice, for he is certain of his own innocence. Because he is innocent, he expects to encounter God and receive an assuring word.
[17:1] 6 tn Heb “hear,
[17:1] 7 tn Heb “Listen to my prayer, [made] without lips of deceit.”
[49:1] 9 sn Psalm 49. In this so-called wisdom psalm (see v. 3) the psalmist states that he will not fear the rich enemies who threaten him, for despite their wealth, they are mere men who will die like everyone else. The psalmist is confident the Lord will vindicate the godly and protect them from the attacks of their oppressors.
[49:1] 10 tn The rare noun חָלֶד (kheled, “world”) occurs in Ps 17:14 and perhaps also in Isa 38:11 (see the note on “world” there).
[55:1] 13 sn Psalm 55. The suffering and oppressed author laments that one of his friends has betrayed him, but he is confident that God will vindicate him by punishing his deceitful enemies.
[55:1] 14 tn The meaning of the Hebrew term מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is uncertain. See the note on the phrase “well-written song” in the superscription of Ps 52.
[55:1] 15 tn Heb “hide yourself from.”
[78:1] 17 sn Psalm 78. The author of this lengthy didactic psalm rehearses Israel’s history. He praises God for his power, goodness and patience, but also reminds his audience that sin angers God and prompts his judgment. In the conclusion to the psalm the author elevates Jerusalem as God’s chosen city and David as his chosen king.
[78:1] 18 tn The meaning of the Hebrew term מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is uncertain. See the note on the phrase “well-written song” in the superscription of Ps 74.
[78:1] 19 tn Heb “Turn your ear to the words of my mouth.”
[84:8] 21 tn Heb “
[135:17] 25 tn Heb “indeed, there is not breath in their mouth.” For the collocation אַף אֵין (’af ’en, “indeed, there is not”) see Isa 41:26. Another option is to take אַף as “nose” (see Ps 115:6), in which case one might translate, “a nose, [but] they have no breath in their mouths.”
[141:1] 29 sn Psalm 141. The psalmist asks God to protect him from sin and from sinful men.
[143:1] 33 sn Psalm 143. As in the previous psalm, the psalmist laments his persecuted state and asks the Lord to deliver him from his enemies.
