Discovery BoxPsalms 39:12 
Context39:12 Hear my prayer, O Lord!
Listen to my cry for help!
Do not ignore my sobbing! 1
For I am dependent on you, like one residing outside his native land;
I am at your mercy, just as all my ancestors were. 2
Psalms 44:3
Context44:3 For they did not conquer 3 the land by their swords,
and they did not prevail by their strength, 4
but rather by your power, 5 strength 6 and good favor, 7
for you were partial to 8 them.
1 tn Heb “do not be deaf to my tears.”
2 tn Heb “For a resident alien [am] I with you, a sojourner like all my fathers.”
sn Resident aliens were dependent on the mercy and goodwill of others. The Lord was concerned that resident aliens be treated properly. See Deut 24:17-22, Ps 146:9.
3 tn Or “take possession of.”
4 tn Heb “and their arm did not save them.” The “arm” here symbolizes military strength.
5 tn Heb “your right hand.” The
6 tn Heb “your arm.”
7 tn Heb “light of your face.” The idiom “light of your face” probably refers to a smile (see Eccl 8:1), which in turn suggests favor and blessing (see Num 6:25; Pss 4:6; 31:16; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19; 89:15; Dan 9:17).
8 tn Or “favorable toward.”
