Psalms 55:2

Pay attention to me and answer me! I am so upset ¹  and distressed, ²  I am beside myself, ³ 

hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught

Give heed to me and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted,

Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.

Come close and whisper your answer. I really need you. I shudder

Give thought to me, and let my prayer be answered: I have been made low in sorrow;

Attend to me, and answer me; I am troubled in my complaint. I am distraught

Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,

Pay attention to me and answer me! I am so upset ¹  and distressed, ²  I am beside myself, ³ 

¹ tn Or “restless” (see Gen 27:40). The Hiphil is intransitive-exhibitive, indicating the outward display of an inner attitude.

² tn Heb “in my complaint.”

³ tn The verb is a Hiphil cohortative from הוּם (hum), which means “to confuse someone” in the Qal and “to go wild” in the Niphal. An Arabic cognate means “to be out of one’s senses, to wander about.” With the vav (ו) conjunctive prefixed to it, the cohortative probably indicates the result or effect of the preceding main verb. Some prefer to emend the form to וְאֵהוֹמָה (vÿ’ehomah), a Niphal of הוּם (hum), or to וְאֶהַמֶה (vÿ’ehameh), a Qal imperfect from הָמָה (hamah, “to moan”). Many also prefer to take this verb with what follows (see v. 3).