Psalms 71:20

71:20 Though you have allowed me to experience much trouble and distress, ¹ 

revive me once again! ² 

Bring me up once again ³  from the depths of the earth!

Psalms 102:24

102:24 I say, “O my God, please do not take me away in the middle of my life! ⁴ 

You endure through all generations. ⁵ 

[71:20]  ¹ tn Heb “you who have caused me to see many harmful distresses.”

[71:20]  ² tn Heb “you return, you give me life.” The Hebrew term שׁוּב (shuv, “return”) is used here in an adverbial sense, indicating repetition of the action described by the following verb. The imperfects are understood here as expressing the psalmist’s prayer or wish. (Note the use of a distinctly jussive form at the beginning of v. 21.) Another option is to understand this as a statement of confidence, “you will revive me once again” (cf. NIV, NRSV).

[71:20]  ³ tn Heb “you return, you bring me up.” The Hebrew term שׁוּב (shuv, “return”) is used here in an adverbial sense, indicating repetition of the action described by the following verb. The imperfects are understood here as expressing the psalmist’s prayer or wish. (Note the use of a distinctly jussive form at the beginning of v. 21.) Another option is to understand this as a statement of confidence, “you will bring me up once again” (cf. NIV, NRSV).

[102:24]  ⁴ tn Heb “do not lift me up in the middle of my days.”

[102:24]  ⁵ tn Heb “in a generation of generations [are] your years.”