Mazmur 38:19

38:19 But those who are my enemies for no reason are numerous; ¹ 

those who hate me without cause outnumber me. ² 

Mazmur 56:2

56:2 Those who anticipate my defeat ³  attack me all day long.

Indeed, ⁴  many are fighting against me, O Exalted One. ⁵ 

Mazmur 59:3

59:3 For look, they wait to ambush me; ⁶ 

powerful men stalk ⁷  me,

but not because I have rebelled or sinned, O Lord. ⁸ 

[38:19]  ¹ tn Heb “and my enemies, life, are many.” The noun חַיִּים (khayyim, “life”) fits very awkwardly here. The translation assumes an emendation to חִנָּם (khinam, “without reason”; note the parallelism with שֶׁקֶר [sheqer, “falsely”] and see Pss 35:19; 69:4; Lam 3:52). The verb עָצַם (’atsam) can sometimes mean “are strong,” but here it probably focuses on numerical superiority (note the parallel verb רָבַב, ravav, “be many”).

[38:19]  ² tn Heb “are many.”

[56:2]  ³ tn Heb “to those who watch me [with evil intent].” See also Pss 5:8; 27:11; 54:5; 59:10.

[56:2]  ⁴ tn Or “for.”

[56:2]  ⁵ tn Some take the Hebrew term מָרוֹם (marom, “on high; above”) as an adverb modifying the preceding participle and translate, “proudly” (cf. NASB; NIV “in their pride”). The present translation assumes the term is a divine title here. The Lord is pictured as enthroned “on high” in Ps 92:8. (Note the substantival use of the term in Isa 24:4 and see C. A. Briggs and E. G. Briggs (Psalms [ICC], 2:34), who prefer to place the term at the beginning of the next verse.)

[59:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “my life.”

[59:3]  ⁷ tn The Hebrew verb is from the root גּוּר (gur), which means “to challenge, attack” in Isa 54:15 and “to stalk” (with hostile intent) in Ps 56:8.

[59:3]  ⁸ sn The point is that the psalmist’s enemies have no justifiable reason for attacking him. He has neither rebelled or sinned against the Lord.