38:13 But I am like a deaf man – I hear nothing;
I am like a mute who cannot speak. 1
75:5 Do not be so certain you have won! 2
Do not speak with your head held so high! 3
A well-written song 5 by Asaph.
78:1 Pay attention, my people, to my instruction!
Listen to the words I speak! 6
107:2 Let those delivered by the Lord speak out, 7
those whom he delivered 8 from the power 9 of the enemy,
138:4 Let all the kings of the earth give thanks 10 to you, O Lord,
when they hear the words you speak. 11
144:11 Grab me and rescue me from the power of foreigners, 12
who speak lies,
and make false promises. 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).
2 tn Heb “do not lift up on high your horn.”
3 tn Heb “[do not] speak with unrestrained neck.” The negative particle is understood in this line by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
sn The image behind the language of vv. 4-5 is that of a powerful wild ox that confidently raises its head before its enemies.
4 sn Psalm 78. The author of this lengthy didactic psalm rehearses Israel’s history. He praises God for his power, goodness and patience, but also reminds his audience that sin angers God and prompts his judgment. In the conclusion to the psalm the author elevates Jerusalem as God’s chosen city and David as his chosen king.
5 tn The meaning of the Hebrew term מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is uncertain. See the note on the phrase “well-written song” in the superscription of Ps 74.
6 tn Heb “Turn your ear to the words of my mouth.”
7 tn Or “let the redeemed of the
8 tn Or “redeemed.”
9 tn Heb “hand.”
10 tn The prefixed verbal forms here and in the following verse are understood as jussives, for the psalmist appears to be calling upon the kings to praise God. Another option is to take them as imperfects and translate, “the kings of the earth will give thanks…and will sing.” In this case the psalmist anticipates a universal response to his thanksgiving song.
11 tn Heb “the words of your mouth.”
12 tn Heb “from the hand of the sons of foreignness.”
13 tn Heb “who [with] their mouth speak falsehood, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.” See v. 8 where the same expression occurs.