Mazmur 141:5
Konteks141:5 May the godly strike me in love and correct me!
May my head not refuse 1 choice oil! 2
Indeed, my prayer is a witness against their evil deeds. 3
Mazmur 142:7
Konteksthat I may give thanks to your name.
Because of me the godly will assemble, 5
for you will vindicate me. 6
Mazmur 149:5
Konteks149:5 Let the godly rejoice because of their vindication! 7
Let them shout for joy upon their beds! 8
[141:5] 1 tn The form יָנִי (yaniy) appears to be derived from the verbal root נוּא (nu’). Another option is to emend the form to יְנָא (yÿna’), a Piel from נָאָה (na’ah), and translate “may choice oil not adorn my head” (see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 [WBC], 271). In this case, choice oil, like delicacies in v. 4, symbolize the pleasures of sin.
[141:5] 2 sn May my head not refuse choice oil. The psalmist compares the constructive criticism of the godly (see the previous line) to having refreshing olive oil poured over one’s head.
[141:5] 3 tc Heb “for still, and my prayer [is] against their evil deeds.” The syntax of the Hebrew text is difficult; the sequence -כִּי־עוֹד וּ (kiy-’od u-, “for still and”) occurs only here. The translation assumes an emendation to כִּי עֵד תְפלָּתִי (“indeed a witness [is] my prayer”). The psalmist’s lament about the evil actions of sinful men (see v. 4) testifies against the wicked in the divine court.
[142:7] 4 tn Heb “bring out my life.”
[142:7] 5 tn Or “gather around.”
[142:7] 6 tn The Hebrew idiom גָּמַל עַל (gamal ’al) means “to repay,” here in a positive sense.
[149:5] 7 tn Heb “in glory.” Here “glory” probably refers to the “honor” that belongs to the
[149:5] 8 tn The significance of the reference to “beds” is unclear. Perhaps the point is that they should rejoice at all times, even when falling asleep or awaking.