Mazmur 102:20

102:20 in order to hear the painful cries of the prisoners,

and to set free those condemned to die, ¹ 

Mazmur 105:19-20

105:19 until the time when his prediction ²  came true.

The Lord’s word ³  proved him right. ⁴ 

105:20 The king authorized his release; ⁵ 

the ruler of nations set him free.

Mazmur 116:16

116:16 Yes, Lord! I am indeed your servant;

I am your lowest slave. ⁶ 

You saved me from death. ⁷ 

Mazmur 146:7

146:7 vindicates the oppressed, ⁸ 

and gives food to the hungry.

The Lord releases the imprisoned.

[102:20]  ¹ tn Heb “the sons of death.” The phrase “sons of death” (see also Ps 79:11) is idiomatic for those condemned to die.

[105:19]  ² tn Heb “word,” probably referring to Joseph’s prediction about the fate of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker (see Gen 41:9-14).

[105:19]  ³ tn This line may refer to Joseph’s prediction of the famine in response to Pharaoh’s dream. Joseph emphasized to Pharaoh that the interpretation of the dream came from God (see Gen 41:16, 25, 28, 32, 39).

[105:19]  ⁴ tn Heb “refined him.”

[105:20]  ⁵ tn Heb “[the] king sent and set him free.”

[116:16]  ⁶ tn Heb “I am your servant, the son of your female servant.” The phrase “son of a female servant” (see also Ps 86:16) is used of a son born to a secondary wife or concubine (Exod 23:12). In some cases the child’s father is the master of the house (see Gen 21:10, 13; Judg 9:18). The use of the expression here certainly does not imply that the Lord has such a secondary wife or concubine! It is used metaphorically and idiomatically to emphasize the psalmist’s humility before the Lord and his status as the Lord’s servant.

[116:16]  ⁷ tn Heb “you have loosed my bonds.” In this context the imagery refers to deliverance from death (see v. 3).

[146:7]  ⁸ tn Heb “executes justice for the oppressed.”