Psalms 69:15

69:15 Don’t let the current overpower me!

Don’t let the deep swallow me up!

Don’t let the pit ¹  devour me! ² 

Psalms 85:8

85:8 I will listen to what God the Lord says. ³ 

For he will make ⁴  peace with his people, his faithful followers. ⁵ 

Yet they must not ⁶  return to their foolish ways.

[69:15]  ¹ tn Heb “well,” which here symbolizes the place of the dead (cf. Ps 55:23).

[69:15]  ² tn Heb “do not let the well close its mouth upon me.”

[85:8]  ³ sn I will listen. Having asked for the Lord’s favor, the psalmist (who here represents the nation) anticipates a divine word of assurance.

[85:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “speak.” The idiom “speak peace” refers to establishing or maintaining peaceful relations with someone (see Gen 37:4; Zech 9:10; cf. Ps 122:8).

[85:8]  ⁵ tn Heb “to his people and to his faithful followers.” The translation assumes that “his people” and “his faithful followers” are viewed as identical here.

[85:8]  ⁶ tn Or “yet let them not.” After the negative particle אֵל (’el), the prefixed verbal form is jussive, indicating the speaker’s desire or wish.