Mazmur 38:13

38:13 But I am like a deaf man – I hear nothing;

I am like a mute who cannot speak. ¹ 

Mazmur 59:7

59:7 Look, they hurl insults at me

and openly threaten to kill me, ² 

for they say, ³ 

“Who hears?”

Mazmur 63:5

63:5 As if with choice meat ⁴  you satisfy my soul. ⁵ 

My mouth joyfully praises you, ⁶ 

[38:13]  ¹ sn I am like a deaf man…like a mute. The psalmist is like a deaf mute; he is incapable of defending himself and is vulnerable to his enemies’ deception (see v. 14).

[59:7]  ² tn Heb “look, they gush forth with their mouth, swords [are] in their lips.”

[59:7]  ³ tn The words “for they say” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The following question (“Who hears?”) is spoken by the psalmist’s enemies, who are confident that no one else can hear their threats against the psalmist. They are aggressive because they feel the psalmist is vulnerable and has no one to help him.

[63:5]  ⁴ tn Heb “like fat and fatness.”

[63:5]  ⁵ tn Or “me.”

[63:5]  ⁶ tn Heb “and [with] lips of joy my mouth praises.”