Psalms 40:14-15

40:14 May those who are trying to snatch away my life

be totally embarrassed and ashamed!

May those who want to harm me

be turned back and ashamed!

40:15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”

be humiliated and disgraced!


tn Heb “may they be embarrassed and ashamed together, the ones seeking my life to snatch it away.”

tn The four prefixed verbal forms in this verse (“may those…be…embarrassed and ashamed…may those…be turned back and ashamed”) are understood as jussives. The psalmist is calling judgment down on his enemies.

sn See Ps 35:4 for a similar prayer.

tn The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive in this imprecation.

tn Heb “May they be humiliated according to their shame, those who say to me, ‘Aha! Aha!’”