Mazmur 119:86

119:86 All your commands are reliable.

I am pursued without reason. ¹  Help me!

Mazmur 119:161

שׂ/שׁ (Sin/Shin)

119:161 Rulers pursue me for no reason,

yet I am more afraid of disobeying your instructions. ² 

Mazmur 35:19

35:19 Do not let those who are my enemies for no reason ³  gloat ⁴  over me!

Do not let those who hate me without cause carry out their wicked schemes! ⁵ 

[119:86]  ¹ sn God’s commands are a reliable guide to right and wrong. By keeping them the psalmist is doing what is right, yet he is still persecuted.

[119:161]  ² tn Heb “and because of your instructions my heart trembles.” The psalmist’s healthy “fear” of the consequences of violating God’s instructions motivates him to obey them. See v. 120.

[35:19]  ³ tn Heb “[with] a lie.” The Hebrew noun שֶׁקֶר (sheqer, “lie”) is used here as an adverb, “falsely, wrongfully” (see Ps 38:19).

[35:19]  ⁴ tn Heb “rejoice.”

[35:19]  ⁵ tn Heb “[do not let] those who hate me without cause pinch [i.e., wink] an eye.” The negative particle is understood in the second line by ellipsis (see the preceding line). In the Book of Proverbs “winking an eye” is associated with deceit and trickery (see 6:13; 10:10; 16:30).