¹ tn Grk “asked him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

¹ tn Or “In essence you asked.” For explanation see the translator’s note on the end of the verse.

³ tn Heb “spreading out her hands.” The idea of asking or pleading for help is implicit in the figure.

³ tn Heb “Ask me.” The rhetorical command sarcastically expresses the Lord’s disgust with those who question his ways.

² tn The words “and you will ask yourselves” are supplied in the translation for clarification and stylistic reasons.

¹ sn Psalm 142. The psalmist laments his persecuted state and asks the Lord to deliver him from his enemies.

² sn My mouth…my lips. The psalmist asks God to protect him from speaking inappropriately or sinfully.

¹ sn Psalm 129. Israel affirms God’s justice and asks him to destroy the enemies of Zion.

¹ sn Psalm 94. The psalmist asks God to judge the wicked and affirms his confidence in God’s justice.

¹ sn Psalm 86. The psalmist appeals to God’s mercy as he asks for deliverance from his enemies.

¹ sn Psalm 69. The psalmist laments his oppressed condition and asks the Lord to deliver him by severely judging his enemies.

¹ sn Psalm 27. The author is confident of the Lord’s protection and asks the Lord to vindicate him.

¹ sn Smile upon us. Though many are discouraged, the psalmist asks the Lord to intervene and transform the situation.

⁵ tn Heb “Get a rider and send [him] to meet him and let him ask, ‘Is there peace?’”

² tn Heb “And the thing was good in the eyes of the Lord, for Solomon asked for this thing.”

¹ tn Heb “for we have added to all our sins an evil [thing] by asking for ourselves a king.”

¹ tn The Hebrew verb translated “asked” (שָׁאַל, shaʾal) refers here to consulting the Lord through a prophetic oracle; cf. NAB “consulted.”

² sn The point of the watchman’s final instructions (“if you want to ask, ask; come again”) is unclear. Perhaps they are included to add realism to the dramatic portrayal. The watchman sends the questioner away with the words, “Feel free to come back and ask again.”

² tn The verb translated “request” is וְיִשְׁאֲלוּ (v^eyishʾalu), the Qal jussive: “let them ask.” This is the point introduced in Exod 3:22. The meaning of the verb might be stronger than simply “ask”; it might have something of the idea of “implore” (see also its use in the naming of Samuel, who was “asked” from Yahweh [1 Sam 1:20]).

³ tn The ἵνα (hina) clause has been translated as substantival, indicating the content of the prayer and asking. The idea of purpose may also be present in this clause.