Psalms 55:17

55:17 During the evening, morning, and noontime

I will lament and moan, ¹ 

and he will hear ²  me. ³ 

Psalms 55:22

55:22 Throw your burden ⁴  upon the Lord,

and he will sustain you. ⁵ 

He will never allow the godly to be upended. ⁶ 

[55:17]  ¹ tn The first verb is clearly a cohortative form, expressing the psalmist’s resolve. The second verb, while formally ambiguous, should also be understood as cohortative here.

[55:17]  ² tn The prefixed verb with vav (ו) consecutive normally appears in narrational contexts to indicate past action, but here it continues the anticipatory (future) perspective of the preceding line. In Ps 77:6 one finds the same sequence of cohortative + prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) consecutive. In this case as well, both forms refer to future actions.

[55:17]  ³ tn Heb “my voice.”

[55:22]  ⁴ tn The Hebrew noun occurs only here.

[55:22]  ⁵ tn The pronoun is singular; the psalmist addresses each member of his audience individually.

[55:22]  ⁶ tn Heb “he will never allow swaying for the righteous.”