Psalms 6:9

6:9 The Lord has heard my appeal for mercy;

the Lord has accepted ¹  my prayer.

Psalms 22:18

22:18 They are dividing up my clothes among themselves;

they are rolling dice ²  for my garments.

Psalms 38:5

38:5 My wounds ³  are infected and starting to smell, ⁴ 

because of my foolish sins. ⁵ 

Psalms 54:2

54:2 O God, listen to my prayer!

Pay attention to what I say! ⁶ 

Psalms 81:13

81:13 If only my people would obey me! ⁷ 

If only Israel would keep my commands! ⁸ 

Psalms 86:6

86:6 O Lord, hear my prayer!

Pay attention to my plea for mercy!

Psalms 88:2

88:2 Listen to my prayer! ⁹ 

Pay attention ¹⁰  to my cry for help!

Psalms 89:20

89:20 I have discovered David, my servant.

With my holy oil I have anointed him as king. ¹¹ 

Psalms 89:30-31

89:30 If his sons reject my law

and disobey my regulations,

89:31 if they break ¹²  my rules

and do not keep my commandments,

Psalms 102:23

102:23 He has taken away my strength in the middle of life; ¹³ 

he has cut short my days.

Psalms 139:23

139:23 Examine me, and probe my thoughts! ¹⁴ 

Test me, and know my concerns! ¹⁵ 

Psalms 142:2

142:2 I pour out my lament before him;

I tell him about ¹⁶  my troubles.

[6:9]  ¹ tn The prefixed verbal form is probably a preterite here; it is parallel to a perfect and refers to the fact that the Lord has responded favorably to the psalmist’s request.

[22:18]  ² tn Heb “casting lots.” The precise way in which this would have been done is not certain.

[38:5]  ³ sn The reference to wounds may be an extension of the metaphorical language of v. 2. The psalmist pictures himself as one whose flesh is ripped and torn by arrows.

[38:5]  ⁴ tn Heb “my wounds stink, they are festering” (cf. NEB).

[38:5]  ⁵ tn Heb “from before my foolishness.”

[54:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “to the words of my mouth.”

[81:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “if only my people were listening to me.” The Hebrew particle לוּ (lu, “if not”) introduces a purely hypothetical or contrary to fact condition (see 2 Sam 18:12).

[81:13]  ⁶ tn Heb “[and if only] Israel would walk in my ways.”

[88:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “may my prayer come before you.” The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive, indicating the psalmist’s desire or prayer.

[88:2]  ⁷ tn Heb “turn your ear.”

[89:20]  ⁷ tn The words “as king” are supplied in the translation for clarification, indicating that a royal anointing is in view.

[89:31]  ⁸ tn Or “desecrate.”

[102:23]  ⁹ tn Heb “he has afflicted my strength in the way.” The term “way” refers here to the course of the psalmist’s life, which appears to be ending prematurely (vv. 23b-24).

[139:23]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “and know my heart.”

[139:23]  ¹¹ tn The Hebrew noun שַׂרְעַפַּי (sar’apay, “concerns”) is used of “worries” in Ps 94:19.

[142:2]  ¹¹ tn Heb “my trouble before him I declare.”