Psalms 70:4-5

Context

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

May those who love to experience¹ your deliverance say continually,²

“May God³ be praised!”⁴

70:5 I am oppressed and needy!⁵

O God, hurry to me!⁶

You are my helper and my deliverer!

O Lord,⁷ do not delay!

[70:4] ¹tn Heb “those who love,” which stands metonymically for its cause, the experience of being delivered by God.

[70:4] ²tn 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] ³tn Ps 40:16 uses the divine name “Lord” here instead of “God.”

[70:4] ⁴tn 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] ⁵sn See Pss 35:10; 37:14.

[70:5] ⁶tn Ps 40:17 has “may the Lord pay attention to me.”

[70:5] ⁷tn Ps 40:17 has “my God” instead of “Lord.”