Psalms 6:4

6:4 Relent, Lord, rescue me! ¹ 

Deliver me because of your faithfulness! ² 

Psalms 23:3

23:3 He restores my strength. ³ 

He leads me down ⁴  the right paths ⁵ 

for the sake of his reputation. ⁶ 

Psalms 25:11

25:11 For the sake of your reputation, ⁷  O Lord,

forgive my sin, because it is great. ⁸ 

Psalms 27:11

27:11 Teach me how you want me to live; ⁹ 

lead me along a level path ¹⁰  because of those who wait to ambush me! ¹¹ 

Psalms 44:26

44:26 Rise up and help us!

Rescue us ¹²  because of your loyal love!

Psalms 60:5

60:5 Deliver by your power ¹³  and answer me, ¹⁴ 

so that the ones you love may be safe. ¹⁵ 

Psalms 69:18

69:18 Come near me and redeem me! ¹⁶ 

Because of my enemies, rescue me!

Psalms 108:6

108:6 Deliver by your power ¹⁷  and answer me,

so that the ones you love may be safe. ¹⁸ 

Psalms 119:11

119:11 In my heart I store up ¹⁹  your words, ²⁰ 

so I might not sin against you.

Psalms 119:71

119:71 It was good for me to suffer,

so that I might learn your statutes.

Psalms 119:80

119:80 May I be fully committed to your statutes, ²¹ 

so that I might not be ashamed.

Psalms 119:101

119:101 I stay away ²²  from the evil path,

so that I might keep your instructions. ²³ 

Psalms 122:8-9

122:8 For the sake of my brothers and my neighbors

I will say, “May there be peace in you!”

122:9 For the sake of the temple of the Lord our God

I will pray for you to prosper. ²⁴ 

Psalms 143:11

143:11 O Lord, for the sake of your reputation, ²⁵  revive me! ²⁶ 

Because of your justice, rescue me from trouble! ²⁷ 

[6:4]  ¹ tn Heb “my being,” or “my life.” The suffixed form of נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “being”) is often equivalent to a pronoun in poetic texts.

[6:4]  ² sn Deliver me because of your faithfulness. Though the psalmist is experiencing divine discipline, he realizes that God has made a commitment to him in the past, so he appeals to God’s faithfulness in his request for help.

[23:3]  ³ tn The appearance of the Hebrew term נַפְשִׁי (nafshi), traditionally translated “my soul,” might suggest a spiritualized interpretation for the first line of v. 3. However, at the surface level of the shepherd/sheep metaphor, this is unlikely. When it occurs with a pronominal suffix נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) is often equivalent to a pronoun, especially in poetry (see BDB 660 s.v. 4 נֶפֶשׁ.a). In this context, where the statement most naturally refers to the physical provision just described, the form is best translated simply “me.” The accompanying verb (a Polel form [factitive use] of שׁוּב [shuv]), if referring to the physical provision just described, carries the nuance “refresh, restore strength.”

[23:3]  ⁴ tn The imperfect verbal forms in v. 3 (יְשׁוֹבֵב [yÿshovev] and יַנְחֵנִי [yakheniy]), like those in vv. 1-2, highlight what is typical of the shepherd/sheep relationship.

[23:3]  ⁵ tn The attributive genitive צֶדֶק (tsedeq) is traditionally translated “righteousness” here, as if designating a moral or ethical quality. But this seems unlikely, for it modifies מַעְגְּלֵי (ma’ggÿley, “paths”). Within the shepherd/sheep metaphor, the phrase likely refers to “right” or “correct” paths, i.e. ones that lead to pastures, wells, or the fold. While צֶדֶק usually does carry a moral or ethical nuance, it can occasionally refer to less abstract things, such as weights and offerings. In this context, which emphasizes divine provision and protection, the underlying reality is probably God’s providential guidance. The psalmist is confident that God takes him down paths that will ultimately lead to something beneficial, not destructive.

[23:3]  ⁶ tn The Hebrew term שֶׁם (shem, “name”) refers here to the shepherd’s reputation. (The English term “name” is often used the same way.) The statement לְמַעַן שְׁמוֹ (lÿma’an shÿmo, “for the sake of his name”) makes excellent sense within the framework of the shepherd/sheep metaphor. Shepherds, who sometimes hired out their services, were undoubtedly concerned about their vocational reputation. To maintain their reputation as competent shepherds, they had to know the “lay of the land” and make sure they led the sheep down the right paths to the proper destinations. The underlying reality is a profound theological truth: God must look out for the best interests of the one he has promised to protect, because if he fails to do so, his faithfulness could legitimately be called into question and his reputation damaged.

[25:11]  ⁵ tn Heb “name.” By forgiving the sinful psalmist, the Lord’s reputation as a merciful God will be enhanced.

[25:11]  ⁶ sn Forgive my sin, because it is great. The psalmist readily admits his desperate need for forgiveness.

[27:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “teach me your way.” The Lord’s “way” refers here to the moral principles which he expects the psalmist to follow. See Ps 25:4.

[27:11]  ⁸ sn The level path refers to God’s moral principles (see the parallel line), which, if followed, will keep the psalmist blameless before his accusers (see v. 12).

[27:11]  ⁹ tn Heb “because of those who watch me [with evil intent].” See also Pss 5:8; 54:5; 56:2.

[44:26]  ⁹ tn Or “redeem us.” See Pss 25:22; 26:11; 69:18; 119:134.

[60:5]  ¹¹ tn Heb “right hand.”

[60:5]  ¹² tn The Qere (marginal reading) has “me,” while the Kethib (consonantal text) has “us.”

[60:5]  ¹³ tn Or “may be rescued.” The lines are actually reversed in the Hebrew text, “So that the ones you love may be rescued, deliver by your power and answer me.”

[69:18]  ¹³ tn Heb “come near my life and redeem it.” The verb “redeem” casts the Lord in the role of a leader who protects members of his extended family in times of need and crisis (see Ps 19:14).

[108:6]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “right hand.”

[108:6]  ¹⁶ tn Or “may be rescued.” The lines are actually reversed in the Hebrew text: “So that the ones you love may be rescued, deliver by your power and answer me.”

[119:11]  ¹⁷ tn Or “hide.”

[119:11]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “your word.” Some medieval Hebrew mss as well as the LXX read the plural, “your words.”

[119:80]  ¹⁹ tn Heb “may my heart be complete in your statutes.”

[119:101]  ²¹ tn Heb “I hold back my feet.”

[119:101]  ²² tn Heb “your word.” Many medieval Hebrew mss read the plural.

[122:9]  ²³ tn Heb “I will seek good for you.” The psalmist will seek Jerusalem’s “good” through prayer.

[143:11]  ²⁵ tn Heb “name,” which here stands metonymically for God’s reputation.

[143:11]  ²⁶ tn The imperfect verbal forms in vv. 11-12a are understood as expressing the psalmist’s desire. Note the petitionary tone of vv. 7-10a.

[143:11]  ²⁷ tn Heb “by your justice bring out my life from trouble.”