Mazmur 63:9

63:9 Enemies seek to destroy my life, ¹ 

but they will descend into the depths of the earth. ² 

Mazmur 72:13-14

72:13 He will take pity ³  on the poor and needy;

the lives of the needy he will save.

72:14 From harm and violence he will defend them; ⁴ 

he will value their lives. ⁵ 

Mazmur 88:3

88:3 For my life ⁶  is filled with troubles

and I am ready to enter Sheol. ⁷ 

Mazmur 103:4

103:4 who delivers ⁸  your life from the Pit, ⁹ 

who crowns you with his loyal love and compassion,

[63:9]  ¹ tn Heb “but they for destruction seek my life.” The pronoun “they” must refer here to the psalmist’s enemies, referred to at this point for the first time in the psalm.

[63:9]  ² sn The depths of the earth refers here to the underworld dwelling place of the dead (see Ezek 26:20; 31:14, 16, 18; 32:18, 24). See L. I. J. Stadelmann, The Hebrew Conception of the World, 167.

[72:13]  ³ tn The prefixed verb form is best understood as a defectively written imperfect (see Deut 7:16).

[72:14]  ⁴ tn Or “redeem their lives.” The verb “redeem” casts the Lord in the role of a leader who protects members of his extended family in times of need and crisis (see Pss 19:14; 69:18).

[72:14]  ⁵ tn Heb “their blood will be precious in his eyes.”

[88:3]  ⁶ tn Or “my soul.”

[88:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “and my life approaches Sheol.”

[103:4]  ⁸ tn Or “redeems.”

[103:4]  ⁹ tn The Hebrew term שַׁחַת (shakhat, “pit”) is often used as a title for Sheol (see Pss 16:10; 30:9; 49:9; 55:24.