Psalms 79:11

79:11 Listen to the painful cries of the prisoners! ¹ 

Use your great strength to set free those condemned to die! ² 

Psalms 71:18

71:18 Even when I am old and gray, ³ 

O God, do not abandon me,

until I tell the next generation about your strength,

and those coming after me about your power. ⁴ 

[79:11]  ¹ tn Heb “may the painful cry of the prisoner come before you.”

[79:11]  ² tn Heb “according to the greatness of your arm leave the sons of death.” God’s “arm” here symbolizes his strength to deliver. The verbal form הוֹתֵר (hoter) is a Hiphil imperative from יָתַר (yatar, “to remain; to be left over”). Here it must mean “to leave over; to preserve.” However, it is preferable to emend the form to הַתֵּר (hatter), a Hiphil imperative from נָתַר (natar, “be free”). The Hiphil form is used in Ps 105:20 of Pharaoh freeing Joseph from prison. The phrase “sons of death” (see also Ps 102:21) is idiomatic for those condemned to die.

[71:18]  ³ tn Heb “and even unto old age and gray hair.”

[71:18]  ⁴ tn Heb “until I declare your arm to a generation, to everyone who comes your power.” God’s “arm” here is an anthropomorphism that symbolizes his great strength.