Psalms 70:3-5

Context

70:3 May those who say, “Aha! Aha!”

be driven back¹ and disgraced!²

70:4 May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you!

May those who love to experience³ your deliverance say continually,⁴

“May God⁵ be praised!”⁶

70:5 I am oppressed and needy!⁷

O God, hurry to me!⁸

You are my helper and my deliverer!

O Lord,⁹ do not delay!

[70:3] ¹tn The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive in this imprecation.

[70:3] ²tn Heb “May they be turned back according to their shame, those who say, ‘Aha! Aha!’” Ps 40:15 has the verb “humiliated” instead of “turned back” and adds “to me” after “say.”

[70:4] ³tn Heb “those who love,” which stands metonymically for its cause, the experience of being delivered by God.

[70:4] ⁴tn The three prefixed verbal forms prior to the quotation are understood as jussives. The psalmist balances out his imprecation against his enemies with a prayer of blessing on the godly.

[70:4] ⁵tn Ps 40:16 uses the divine name “Lord” here instead of “God.”

[70:4] ⁶tn The prefixed verbal form is taken as a jussive, “may the Lord be magnified [in praise].” Another option is to take the verb as an imperfect, “the Lord is great.” See Ps 35:27.

[70:5] ⁷sn See Pss 35:10; 37:14.

[70:5] ⁸tn Ps 40:17 has “may the Lord pay attention to me.”

[70:5] ⁹tn Ps 40:17 has “my God” instead of “Lord.”