34:19 The godly 1 face many dangers, 2
but the Lord saves 3 them 4 from each one of them.
40:12 For innumerable dangers 5 surround me.
My sins overtake me
so I am unable to see;
they outnumber the hairs of my head
so my strength fails me. 6
1 tn The Hebrew text uses the singular form; the representative or typical godly person is envisioned.
2 tn Or “trials.”
3 tn The Hebrew imperfect verbal form highlights the generalizing statement and draws attention to the fact that the
4 tn Heb “him,” agreeing with the singular form in the preceding line.
5 tn Or “sinful deeds.” The Hebrew term used here can have a nonmoral nuance (“dangers”) or a moral one (“sinful deeds”) depending on the context. The next line (see “my sins”) seems to favor the moral sense, but the psalmist also speaks of enemies shortly after this (v. 14).
6 tn Heb “and my heart abandons me.” The “heart” is here viewed as the seat of emotional strength and courage. For a similar idea see Ps 38:10.