Discovery BoxPsalms 17:6 
Context17:6 I call to you for you will answer me, O God.
Listen to me! 1
Hear what I say! 2
Psalms 38:13
Context38:13 But I am like a deaf man – I hear nothing;
I am like a mute who cannot speak. 3
Psalms 61:5
Context61:5 For you, O God, hear my vows;
you grant me the reward that belongs to your loyal followers. 4
Psalms 94:9
Context94:9 Does the one who makes the human ear not hear?
Does the one who forms the human eye not see? 5
Psalms 102:20
Context102:20 in order to hear the painful cries of the prisoners,
and to set free those condemned to die, 6
Psalms 138:4
Context138:4 Let all the kings of the earth give thanks 7 to you, O Lord,
when they hear the words you speak. 8
1 tn Heb “Turn your ear toward me.”
2 tn Heb “my word.”
3 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).
4 tn Heb “you grant the inheritance of those who fear your name.” “Inheritance” is normally used of land which is granted as an inheritance; here it refers metaphorically to the blessings granted God’s loyal followers. To “fear” God’s name means to have a healthy respect for his revealed reputation which in turn motivates one to obey God’s commands (see Ps 86:11).
5 tn Heb “The one who plants an ear, does he not hear? The one who forms an eye, does he not see?”
6 tn Heb “the sons of death.” The phrase “sons of death” (see also Ps 79:11) is idiomatic for those condemned to die.
7 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.
8 tn Heb “the words of your mouth.”
