Discovery BoxPsalms 17:9 
Context17:9 Protect me from 1 the wicked men who attack 2 me,
my enemies who crowd around me for the kill. 3
Psalms 35:18
Context35:18 Then I will give you thanks in the great assembly; 4
I will praise you before a large crowd of people! 5
Psalms 55:14
Context55:14 We would share personal thoughts with each other; 6
in God’s temple we would walk together among the crowd.
1 tn Heb “from before”; or “because.” In the Hebrew text v. 9 is subordinated to v. 8. The words “protect me” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
2 tn Heb “destroy.” The psalmist uses the perfect verbal form to emphasize the degree of danger. He describes the wicked as being already in the process of destroying him.
3 tn Heb “my enemies, at the risk of life they surround me.” The Hebrew phrase בְּנֶפֶשׁ (bÿnefesh) sometimes has the nuance “at the risk of [one’s] life” (see 1 Kgs 2:23; Prov 7:23; Lam 5:9).
4 sn The great assembly is also mentioned in Ps 22:25.
5 tn Heb “among numerous people.”
6 tn Heb “who together we would make counsel sweet.” The imperfect verbal forms here and in the next line draw attention to the ongoing nature of the actions (the so-called customary use of the imperfect). Their relationship was characterized by such intimacy and friendship. See IBHS 502-3 §31.2b.
