Mazmur 25:7

25:7 Do not hold against me ¹  the sins of my youth ²  or my rebellious acts!

Because you are faithful to me, extend to me your favor, O Lord! ³ 

Mazmur 41:4

41:4 As for me, I said: ⁴ 

“O Lord, have mercy on me!

Heal me, for I have sinned against you!

Mazmur 40:12

40:12 For innumerable dangers ⁵  surround me.

My sins overtake me

so I am unable to see;

they outnumber the hairs of my head

so my strength fails me. ⁶ 

[25:7]  ¹ tn Heb “do not remember,” with the intention of punishing.

[25:7]  ² sn That is, the sins characteristic of youths, who lack moral discretion and wisdom.

[25:7]  ³ tn Heb “according to your faithfulness, remember me, you, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.”

[41:4]  ⁴ sn In vv. 4-10 the psalmist recites the prayer of petition and lament he offered to the Lord.

[40:12]  ⁵ tn Or “sinful deeds.” The Hebrew term used here can have a nonmoral nuance (“dangers”) or a moral one (“sinful deeds”) depending on the context. The next line (see “my sins”) seems to favor the moral sense, but the psalmist also speaks of enemies shortly after this (v. 14).

[40:12]  ⁶ tn Heb “and my heart abandons me.” The “heart” is here viewed as the seat of emotional strength and courage. For a similar idea see Ps 38:10.