Mazmur 69:11

69:11 I wear sackcloth

and they ridicule me. ¹ 

Mazmur 71:7

71:7 Many are appalled when they see me, ² 

but you are my secure shelter.

Mazmur 73:13

73:13 I concluded, ³  “Surely in vain I have kept my motives ⁴  pure

and maintained a pure lifestyle. ⁵ 

Mazmur 87:6

87:6 The Lord writes in the census book of the nations, ⁶ 

“This one was born there.” ⁷  (Selah)

Mazmur 104:19

104:19 He made the moon to mark the months, ⁸ 

and the sun sets according to a regular schedule. ⁹ 

[69:11]  ¹ tn Heb “and I am an object of ridicule to them.”

[71:7]  ² tn Heb “like a sign [i.e., portent or bad omen] I am to many.”

[73:13]  ³ tn The words “I concluded” are supplied in the translation. It is apparent that vv. 13-14 reflect the psalmist’s thoughts at an earlier time (see vv. 2-3), prior to the spiritual awakening he describes in vv. 17-28.

[73:13]  ⁴ tn Heb “heart,” viewed here as the seat of one’s thoughts and motives.

[73:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “and washed my hands in innocence.” The psalmist uses an image from cultic ritual to picture his moral lifestyle. The reference to “hands” suggests actions.

[87:6]  ⁶ tn Heb “the Lord records in the writing of the nations.”

[87:6]  ⁷ tn As noted in v. 4, the translation assumes a contrast between “there” (the various foreign lands) and “in her” (Zion). In contrast to foreigners, the citizens of Zion have special status because of their birthplace (v. 5). In this case vv. 4 and 6 form a structural frame around v. 5.

[104:19]  ⁸ tn Heb “he made [the] moon for appointed times.” The phrase “appointed times” probably refers to the months of the Hebrew lunar calendar.

[104:19]  ⁹ tn Heb more metaphorically, “knows its setting.”