Mazmur 51:14

51:14 Rescue me from the guilt of murder, ¹  O God, the God who delivers me!

Then my tongue will shout for joy because of your deliverance. ² 

Mazmur 55:23

55:23 But you, O God, will bring them ³  down to the deep Pit. ⁴ 

Violent and deceitful people ⁵  will not live even half a normal lifespan. ⁶ 

But as for me, I trust in you.

Mazmur 139:19

139:19 If only ⁷  you would kill the wicked, O God!

Get away from me, you violent men! ⁸ 

[51:14]  ¹ tn Heb “from bloodshed.” “Bloodshed” here stands by metonymy for the guilt which it produces.

[51:14]  ² tn Heb “my tongue will shout for joy your deliverance.” Another option is to take the prefixed verbal form as a jussive, “may my tongue shout for joy.” However, the pattern in vv. 12-15 appears to be prayer/request (see vv. 12, 14a, 15a) followed by promise/vow (see vv. 13, 14b, 15b).

[55:23]  ³ tn The pronominal suffix refers to the psalmist’s enemies (see v. 19).

[55:23]  ⁴ tn Heb “well of the pit.” The Hebrew term שַׁחַת (shakhat, “pit”) is often used as a title for Sheol (see Pss 16:10; 30:9; 49:9; 103:4).

[55:23]  ⁵ tn Heb “men of bloodshed and deceit.”

[55:23]  ⁶ tn Heb “will not divide in half their days.”

[139:19]  ⁷ tn The Hebrew particle אִם (’im, “if”) and following prefixed verbal form here express a wish (see Pss 81:8; 95:7, as well as GKC 321 §109.b).

[139:19]  ⁸ tn Heb “men of bloodshed.”