Mazmur 109:7-9

109:7 When he is judged, he will be found ¹  guilty! ² 

Then his prayer will be regarded as sinful.

109:8 May his days be few! ³ 

May another take his job! ⁴ 

109:9 May his children ⁵  be fatherless,

and his wife a widow!

[109:7]  ¹ tn The prefixed verbal form could be taken as a jussive, but the use of the imperfect form in the following line suggests that v. 7 anticipates the outcome of the accusation envisioned in v. 6.

[109:7]  ² tn Heb “he will go out [as] a criminal” (that is, guilty).

[109:8]  ³ tn The prefixed verbal forms (except those with vav [ו] consecutive) in vv. 8-20 are taken as jussives of prayer. Note the distinct jussive forms used in vv. 12-13, 15, 19.

[109:8]  ⁴ tn The Hebrew noun פְּקֻדָּה (pÿquddah) can mean “charge” or “office,” though BDB 824 s.v. suggests that here it refers to his possessions.

[109:9]  ⁵ tn Or “sons.”