118:7 The Lord is on my side 1 as my helper. 2
I look in triumph on those who hate me.
146:5 How blessed is the one whose helper is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
40:17 I am oppressed and needy! 3
May the Lord pay attention to me! 4
You are my helper and my deliverer!
O my God, do not delay!
For the music director; by the Korahites; according to the alamoth style; 6 a song.
46:1 God is our strong refuge; 7
he is truly our helper in times of trouble. 8
70:5 I am oppressed and needy! 9
O God, hurry to me! 10
You are my helper and my deliverer!
O Lord, 11 do not delay!
1 tn Heb “for me.”
2 tn Heb “among my helpers.” The preposition may indicate identity here, while the plural may be one of majesty or respect.
3 sn See Pss 35:10; 37:14.
4 tn The prefixed verbal form may be taken as a jussive of prayer (as in the present translation; cf. NIV) or as an imperfect, “The
5 sn Psalm 46. In this so-called “Song Of Zion” God’s people confidently affirm that they are secure because the great warrior-king dwells within Jerusalem and protects it from the nations that cause such chaos in the earth. A refrain (vv. 7, 11) concludes the song’s two major sections.
6 sn The meaning of the Hebrew term עֲלָמוֹת (alamoth, which means “young women”) is uncertain; perhaps it refers to a particular style of music. Cf. 1 Chr 15:20.
7 tn Heb “our refuge and strength,” which is probably a hendiadys meaning “our strong refuge” (see Ps 71:7). Another option is to translate, “our refuge and source of strength.”
8 tn Heb “a helper in times of trouble he is found [to be] greatly.” The perfect verbal form has a generalizing function here. The adverb מְאֹד (mÿ’od, “greatly”) has an emphasizing function.
9 sn See Pss 35:10; 37:14.
10 tn Ps 40:17 has “may the Lord pay attention to me.”
11 tn Ps 40:17 has “my God” instead of “