Psalms 54:5

54:5 May those who wait to ambush me be repaid for their evil!

As a demonstration of your faithfulness, destroy them!

Psalms 143:12

143:12 As a demonstration of your loyal love, destroy my enemies!

Annihilate all who threaten my life,

for I am your servant.


tn Heb “to those who watch me [with evil intent].” See also Pss 5:8; 27:11; 56:2.

tn The Kethib (consonantal text) reads a Qal imperfect, “the evil will return,” while the Qere (marginal reading) has a Hiphil imperfect, “he will repay.” The parallel line has an imperative (indicating a prayer/request), so it is best to read a jussive form יָשֹׁב (yashov, “let it [the evil] return”) here.

tn Heb “in [or “by”] your faithfulness.”

tn Heb “in [or “by”] your faithfulness.”

tn The perfect with vav (ו) consecutive carries on the mood of the preceding imperfect.

tn Heb “all the enemies of my life.”