70:2 May those who are trying to take my life
be embarrassed and ashamed! 1
May those who want to harm me
be turned back and ashamed! 2
70:3 May those who say, “Aha! Aha!”
be driven back 3 and disgraced! 4
1 tn Heb “may they be embarrassed and ashamed, the ones seeking my life.” Ps 40:14 has “together” after “ashamed,” and “to snatch it away” after “my life.”
2 tn The four prefixed verbal forms in this verse are understood as jussives. The psalmist is calling judgment down on his enemies.
sn See Ps 35:4 for a similar prayer.
3 tn The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive in this imprecation.
4 tn Heb “May they be turned back according to their shame, those who say, ‘Aha! Aha!’” Ps 40:15 has the verb “humiliated” instead of “turned back” and adds “to me” after “say.”