A musical composition 2 by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning 3 a Benjaminite named Cush. 4
7:1 O Lord my God, in you I have taken shelter. 5
Deliver me from all who chase me! Rescue me!
9:13 when they prayed: 6
“Have mercy on me, 7 Lord!
See how I am oppressed by those who hate me, 8
O one who can snatch me away 9 from the gates of death!
55:12 Indeed, 10 it is not an enemy who insults me,
or else I could bear it;
it is not one who hates me who arrogantly taunts me, 11
or else I could hide from him.
1 sn Psalm 7. The psalmist asks the Lord to intervene and deliver him from his enemies. He protests his innocence and declares his confidence in God’s justice.
2 tn The precise meaning of the Hebrew term שִׁגָּיוֹן (shiggayon; translated here “musical composition”) is uncertain. Some derive the noun from the verbal root שָׁגָה (shagah, “swerve, reel”) and understand it as referring to a “wild, passionate song, with rapid changes of rhythm” (see BDB 993 s.v. שִׁגָּיוֹן). But this proposal is purely speculative. The only other appearance of the noun is in Hab 3:1, where it occurs in the plural.
3 tn Or “on account of.”
4 sn Apparently this individual named Cush was one of David’s enemies.
5 tn The Hebrew perfect verbal form probably refers here to a completed action with continuing results.
6 tn The words “when they prayed,” though not represented in the Hebrew text, are supplied in the translation for clarification. The petition in vv. 13-14 is best understood as the cry for help which the oppressed offered to God when the nations threatened. The
7 tn Or “show me favor.”
8 tn Heb “see my misery from the ones who hate me.”
9 tn Heb “one who lifts me up.”
10 tn Or “for.”
11 tn Heb “[who] magnifies against me.” See Pss 35:26; 38:16.