Boks TemuanPsalms 35:1--36:12
KonteksBy David.
35:1 O Lord, fight 2 those who fight with me!
Attack those who attack me!
35:2 Grab your small shield and large shield, 3
and rise up to help me!
35:3 Use your spear and lance 4 against 5 those who chase me!
Assure me with these words: 6 “I am your deliverer!”
35:4 May those who seek my life be embarrassed and humiliated!
May those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed! 7
35:5 May they be 8 like wind-driven chaff,
as the Lord’s angel 9 attacks them! 10
35:6 May their path be 11 dark and slippery,
as the Lord’s angel chases them!
35:7 I did not harm them, but they hid a net to catch me
and dug a pit to trap me. 12
35:8 Let destruction take them by surprise! 13
Let the net they hid catch them!
Let them fall into destruction! 14
35:9 Then I will rejoice in the Lord
and be happy because of his deliverance. 15
35:10 With all my strength I will say, 16
“O Lord, who can compare to you?
You rescue 17 the oppressed from those who try to overpower them; 18
the oppressed and needy from those who try to rob them.” 19
35:11 Violent men perjure themselves, 20
and falsely accuse me. 21
35:12 They repay me evil for the good I have done; 22
I am overwhelmed with sorrow. 23
35:13 When they were sick, I wore sackcloth, 24
and refrained from eating food. 25
(If I am lying, may my prayers go unanswered!) 26
35:14 I mourned for them as I would for a friend or my brother. 27
I bowed down 28 in sorrow as if I were mourning for my mother. 29
35:15 But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together;
they gathered together to ambush me. 30
They tore at me without stopping to rest. 31
35:16 When I tripped, they taunted me relentlessly, 32
and tried to bite me. 33
35:17 O Lord, how long are you going to just stand there and watch this? 34
Rescue 35 me 36 from their destructive attacks;
guard my life 37 from the young lions!
35:18 Then I will give you thanks in the great assembly; 38
I will praise you before a large crowd of people! 39
35:19 Do not let those who are my enemies for no reason 40 gloat 41 over me!
Do not let those who hate me without cause carry out their wicked schemes! 42
35:20 For they do not try to make peace with others, 43
but plan ways to deceive those who are unsuspecting. 44
35:21 They are ready to devour me; 45
they say, “Aha! Aha! We’ve got you!” 46
35:22 But you take notice, 47 Lord!
O Lord, do not remain far away from me!
35:23 Rouse yourself, wake up 48 and vindicate me! 49
My God and Lord, defend my just cause! 50
35:24 Vindicate me by your justice, O Lord my God!
Do not let them gloat 51 over me!
35:25 Do not let them say to themselves, 52 “Aha! We have what we wanted!” 53
Do not let them say, “We have devoured him!”
35:26 May those who want to harm me be totally embarrassed and ashamed! 54
May those who arrogantly taunt me be covered with shame and humiliation! 55
35:27 May those who desire my vindication shout for joy and rejoice!
May they continually say, 56 “May the Lord be praised, 57 for he wants his servant to be secure.” 58
35:28 Then I will tell others about your justice, 59
and praise you all day long. 60
For the music director; written by the Lord’s servant, David; an oracle. 62
36:1 An evil man is rebellious to the core. 63
He does not fear God, 64
36:2 for he is too proud
to recognize and give up his sin. 65
36:3 The words he speaks are sinful and deceitful;
he does not care about doing what is wise and right. 66
36:4 He plans ways to sin while he lies in bed;
he is committed to a sinful lifestyle; 67
he does not reject what is evil. 68
36:5 O Lord, your loyal love reaches to the sky; 69
your faithfulness to the clouds. 70
36:6 Your justice is like the highest mountains, 71
your fairness like the deepest sea;
you preserve 72 mankind and the animal kingdom. 73
36:7 How precious 74 is your loyal love, O God!
The human race finds shelter under your wings. 75
36:8 They are filled with food from your house,
and you allow them to drink from the river of your delicacies.
36:9 For you are the one who gives
and sustains life. 76
36:10 Extend 77 your loyal love to your faithful followers, 78
and vindicate 79 the morally upright! 80
36:11 Do not let arrogant men overtake me,
or let evil men make me homeless! 81
36:12 I can see the evildoers! They have fallen! 82
They have been knocked down and are unable to get up! 83
[35:1] 1 sn Psalm 35. The author, who faces ruthless enemies who seek his life for no reason, begs the Lord to fight his battles for him and to vindicate him by annihilating his adversaries.
[35:2] 3 tn Two different types of shields are mentioned here. See also Ezek 38:4. Many modern translations render the first term (translated here “small shield”) as “buckler” (cf. NASB “buckler and shield”; the order is often reversed in the translation, apparently for stylistic reasons: cf. NEB, NIV, NRSV “shield and buckler”). The English term “buckler,” referring to a small round shield held on the arm to protect the upper body, is unfamiliar to many modern readers, so the term “small shield” was used in the present translation for clarity.
[35:3] 5 tn Or “javelin.” On the meaning of this word, which occurs only here in the Hebrew Bible, see M. Dahood, Psalms (AB), 1:210-11.
[35:3] 6 tn Heb “draw out spear and lance to meet.”
[35:3] 7 tn Heb “say to me,” or “say to my soul.”
[35:4] 7 tn The four prefixed verbal forms in this verse are understood as jussives. The psalmist is calling judgment down on his enemies. See also the distinct jussive form in v. 6.
[35:5] 9 tn The prefixed verbal form is taken as a jussive. See v. 4.
[35:5] 10 sn See the mention of the
[35:5] 11 tn Heb “as the
[35:6] 11 tn The prefixed verbal form is distinctly jussive, indicating this is a prayer.
[35:7] 13 tc Heb “for without cause they hid for me a pit of their net, without cause they dug for my life.” It appears that the words “pit” and “net” have been transposed. “Net” goes with the verb “hid” in the first line (see v. 8, as well as Pss 9:15; 31:4), while “pit” goes with the verb “dug” in the second line (see Ps 7:15).
[35:8] 15 tn Heb “let destruction [which] he does not know come to him.” The singular is used of the enemy in v. 8, probably in a representative or collective sense. The psalmist has more than one enemy, as vv. 1-7 make clear.
[35:8] 16 tn The psalmist’s prayer for his enemies’ demise continues. See vv. 4-6.
[35:9] 17 tn Heb “then my soul will rejoice in the
[35:10] 19 tn Heb “all my bones will say.”
[35:10] 20 tn Heb “[the one who] rescues.” The substantival participle in the Hebrew text characterizes God as one who typically rescues the oppressed.
[35:10] 21 tn Heb “from [the one who is] too strong for him.” The singular forms are used in a representative sense. The typical oppressed individual and typical oppressor are in view.
[35:10] 22 tn Heb “the oppressed [one] and needy [one] from [the one who] robs him.” As in the previous line, the singular forms are used in a representative sense.
[35:11] 21 tn Heb “witnesses of violence rise up.”
[35:11] 22 tn Heb “[that] which I do not know they ask me.”
[35:12] 23 tn Heb “they repay me evil instead of good.”
[35:12] 24 tn Heb “[there is] bereavement to my soul.”
[35:13] 25 tn Heb “as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth.” Sackcloth was worn by mourners. When the psalmist’s enemies were sick, he was sorry for their misfortune and mourned for them.
[35:13] 26 sn Fasting was also a practice of mourners. By refraining from normal activities, such as eating food, the mourner demonstrated the sincerity of his sorrow.
[35:13] 27 tn Heb “and my prayer upon my chest will return.” One could translate, “but my prayer was returning upon my chest,” but the use of the imperfect verbal form sets this line apart from the preceding and following lines (vv. 13a, 14), which use the perfect to describe the psalmist’s past actions.
[35:14] 27 tn Heb “like a friend, like a brother to me I walked about.”
[35:14] 28 sn I bowed down. Bowing down was a posture for mourning. See Ps 38:6.
[35:14] 29 tn Heb “like mourning for a mother [in] sorrow I bowed down.”
[35:15] 29 tn Heb “they gathered together against me, stricken [ones], and I did not know.” The Hebrew form נֵכִים (nekhim, “stricken ones” ?) is problematic. Some suggest an emendation to נָכְרִים[כְ] (kÿnokhÿrim, “foreigners”) or “like foreigners,” which would fit with what follows, “[like] foreigners that I do not recognize.” Perhaps the form should be read as a Qal active participle, נֹכִים (nokhim, “ones who strike”) from the verbal root נָכָה (nakhah, “to strike”). The Qal of this verb is unattested in biblical Hebrew, but the peal (basic) stem appears in Old Aramaic (J. Fitzmyer, The Aramaic Inscriptions of Sefire [BibOr], 114; DNWSI 1:730.) In this case one might translate, “attackers gathered together against me though I was not aware of it” (cf. NASB “smiters”; NEB, NRSV “ruffians”; NIV “attackers”).
[35:15] 30 tn Heb “they tore and did not keep quiet.” By using the verb “tear,” the psalmist likens his enemies to a wild animal (see Hos 13:8). In v. 17 he compares them to hungry young lions.
[35:16] 31 tc The MT reads “as profane [ones] of mockers of food,” which is nonsensical. The present translation assumes (1) an emendation of בְּחַנְפֵי (bÿkhanfey, “as profane men”) to בְּחַנְפִי (bekhanfiy, “when I tripped”; preposition + Qal infinitive construct from II חָנַף [“limp”] + first common singular pronominal suffix) and (2) an emendation of לַעֲגֵי מָעוֹג (la’agey ma’og, “mockers of food”) to עָגוּ[ם]לַעְגָּ (la’gam ’agu, “[with] taunting they taunted”; masculine plural noun with enclitic mem + Qal perfect third common plural from לַּעַג [la’ag, “taunt”]).
[35:16] 32 tn Heb “gnashing at me with their teeth.” The infinitive absolute adds a complementary action – they gnashed with their teeth as they taunted.
[35:17] 33 tn Heb “O Lord, how long will you see?”
[35:17] 34 tn Heb “bring back, restore.”
[35:17] 36 tn Heb “my only one.” The psalmist may mean that his life is precious, or that he feels isolated and alone (see Ps 22:20). The verb “guard” is supplied in the translation, because the verb “rescue” is understood by ellipsis (see the previous line).
[35:18] 35 sn The great assembly is also mentioned in Ps 22:25.
[35:18] 36 tn Heb “among numerous people.”
[35:19] 37 tn Heb “[with] a lie.” The Hebrew noun שֶׁקֶר (sheqer, “lie”) is used here as an adverb, “falsely, wrongfully” (see Ps 38:19).
[35:19] 39 tn Heb “[do not let] those who hate me without cause pinch [i.e., wink] an eye.” The negative particle is understood in the second line by ellipsis (see the preceding line). In the Book of Proverbs “winking an eye” is associated with deceit and trickery (see 6:13; 10:10; 16:30).
[35:20] 39 tn Heb “for they do not speak peace.”
[35:20] 40 tn Heb “but against the quiet ones of the land words of deceit they plan.” The imperfect verbal forms in v. 20 highlight their characteristic behavior.
[35:21] 41 tn Heb “and they cause their mouth to be wide against me.” The prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) consecutive here carries on the generalizing mood of the previous verse. For other examples of this use of the prefixed verbal form with vav consecutive, see GKC 329 §111.t.
[35:21] 42 tn Heb “our eye sees.” Apparently this is an idiom meaning to “look in triumph” or “gloat over” (see Ps 54:7).
[35:22] 43 tn Heb “you see, O
[35:23] 45 sn Though he is confident that the Lord is aware of his situation (see v. 22a), the psalmist compares the Lord’s inactivity to sleep and urges him to wake up.
[35:23] 46 tn Heb “for my justice.”
[35:23] 47 tn Heb “for my cause.”
[35:25] 49 tn Heb “in their heart[s].”
[35:25] 50 tn Heb “Aha! Our desire!” The “desire” of the psalmist’s enemies is to triumph over him.
[35:26] 51 tn Heb “may they be embarrassed and ashamed together, the ones who rejoice over my harm.”
[35:26] 52 tn Heb “may they be clothed with shame and humiliation, the ones who magnify [themselves] against me.” The prefixed verbal forms in v. 26 are understood as jussives (see vv. 24b-25, where the negative particle אַל (’al) appears before the prefixed verbal forms, indicating they are jussives). The psalmist is calling down judgment on his enemies.
[35:27] 53 tn The prefixed verbal forms in v. 27a are understood as jussives (see vv. 24b-26).
[35:27] 54 tn The prefixed verbal form is taken as a jussive, “may the
[35:27] 55 tn Heb “the one who desires the peace of his servant.”
[35:28] 55 tn Heb “and my tongue will proclaim your justice.”
[35:28] 56 tn Heb “all the day your praise.” The verb “proclaim” is understood by ellipsis in the second line (see the previous line).
[36:1] 57 sn Psalm 36. Though evil men plan to harm others, the psalmist is confident that the Lord is the just ruler of the earth who gives and sustains all life. He prays for divine blessing and protection and anticipates God’s judgment of the wicked.
[36:1] 58 tn In the Hebrew text the word נאם (“oracle”) appears at the beginning of the next verse (v. 2 in the Hebrew text because the superscription is considered v. 1). The resulting reading, “an oracle of rebellion for the wicked [is] in the midst of my heart” (cf. NIV) apparently means that the psalm, which foresees the downfall of the wicked, is a prophetic oracle about the rebellion of the wicked which emerges from the soul of the psalmist. One could translate, “Here is a poem written as I reflected on the rebellious character of evil men.” Another option, followed in the translation above, is to attach נאם (nÿ’um, “oracle”) with the superscription. For another example of a Davidic poem being labeled an “oracle,” see 2 Sam 23:1.
[36:1] 59 tn Heb “[the] rebellion of an evil man [is] in the midst of my heart.” The translation assumes a reading “in the midst of his heart” (i.e., “to the core”) instead of “in the midst of my heart,” a change which finds support in a a few medieval Hebrew
[36:1] 60 tn Heb “there is no dread of God before his eyes.” The phrase “dread of God” refers here to a healthy respect for God which recognizes that he will punish evil behavior.
[36:2] 59 tn Heb “for it causes to be smooth to him in his eyes to find his sin to hate.” The meaning of the Hebrew text is unclear. Perhaps the point is this: His rebellious attitude makes him reject any notion that God will hold him accountable. His attitude also prevents him from recognizing and repudiating his sinful ways.
[36:3] 61 tn Heb “he ceases to exhibit wisdom to do good.” The Hiphil forms are exhibitive, indicating the outward expression of an inner attitude.
[36:4] 63 tn Heb “he takes a stand in a way [that is] not good.” The word “way” here refers metaphorically to behavior or life style.
[36:4] 64 tn The three imperfect verbal forms in v. 4 highlight the characteristic behavior of the typical evildoer.
[36:5] 65 tn Heb “[is] in the heavens.”
[36:5] 66 sn The Lord’s loyal love/faithfulness is almost limitless. He is loyal and faithful to his creation and blesses mankind and the animal kingdom with physical life and sustenance (vv. 6-9).
[36:6] 67 tn Heb “mountains of God.” The divine name אֵל (’el, “God”) is here used in an idiomatic manner to indicate the superlative.
[36:6] 69 sn God’s justice/fairness is firm and reliable like the highest mountains and as abundant as the water in the deepest sea. The psalmist uses a legal metaphor to describe God’s preservation of his creation. Like a just judge who vindicates the innocent, God protects his creation from destructive forces.
[36:7] 70 tn Heb “and the sons of man in the shadow of your wings find shelter.” The preservation of physical life is in view, as the next verse makes clear.
[36:9] 71 tn Heb “for with you is the fountain of life, in your light we see light.” Water (note “fountain”) and light are here metaphors for life.
[36:10] 73 tn Heb “draw out to full length.”
[36:10] 74 tn Heb “to those who know you.” The Hebrew verb יָדַע (yada’, “know”) is used here of those who “know” the
[36:10] 75 tn Heb “and your justice to.” The verb “extend” is understood by ellipsis in the second line (see the previous line).
[36:10] 76 tn Heb “the pure of heart.” The “heart” is here viewed as the seat of one’s moral character and motives. The “pure of heart” are God’s faithful followers who trust in and love the Lord and, as a result, experience his deliverance (see Pss 7:10; 11:2; 32:11; 64:10; 94:15; 97:11).
[36:11] 75 tn Heb “let not a foot of pride come to me, and let not the hand of the evil ones cause me to wander as a fugitive.”
[36:12] 77 tn Heb “there the workers of wickedness have fallen.” The adverb שָׁם (sham, “there”) is used here for dramatic effect, as the psalmist envisions the evildoers lying fallen at a spot that is vivid in his imagination (BDB 1027 s.v.).
[36:12] 78 tn The psalmist uses perfect verbal forms in v. 12 to describe the demise of the wicked as if it has already taken place.
