Mazmur 71:21

71:21 Raise me to a position of great honor! ¹ 

Turn and comfort me! ² 

Mazmur 119:50

119:50 This ³  is what comforts me in my trouble,

for your promise revives me. ⁴ 

Mazmur 94:19

94:19 When worries threaten to overwhelm me, ⁵ 

your soothing touch makes me happy. ⁶ 

[71:21]  ¹ tn Heb “increase my greatness.” The prefixed verbal form is distinctly jussive, indicating this is a prayer or wish. The psalmist’s request for “greatness” (or “honor”) is not a boastful, self-serving prayer for prominence, but, rather, a request that God would vindicate by elevating him over those who are trying to humiliate him.

[71:21]  ² tn The imperfects are understood here as expressing the psalmist’s prayer or wish. (Note the use of a distinctly jussive form at the beginning of v. 21.)

[119:50]  ³ tn The demonstrative “this” refers back to the hope just mentioned or forward to the statement in the second line concerning the promise’s power to revive. See the note on the word “me” at the end of the verse for further discussion.

[119:50]  ⁴ tn The hope generated by the promise (see v. 49b) brings comfort because (note “for” at the beginning of the line) the promise revives the psalmist’s spirits. Another option is to take כִּי (ki) at the beginning of the second line in the sense of “that,” in which case “this” refers to the promise’s power to revive.

[94:19]  ⁵ tn Heb “when my worries are many within me.”

[94:19]  ⁶ tn Heb “your comforts cause my soul to delight.”