Mazmur 12:8

12:8 for the wicked seem to be everywhere, ¹ 

when people promote evil. ² 

Mazmur 39:12

39:12 Hear my prayer, O Lord!

Listen to my cry for help!

Do not ignore my sobbing! ³ 

For I am dependent on you, like one residing outside his native land;

I am at your mercy, just as all my ancestors were. ⁴ 

Mazmur 69:13

69:13 O Lord, may you hear my prayer and be favorably disposed to me! ⁵ 

O God, because of your great loyal love,

answer me with your faithful deliverance! ⁶ 

[12:8]  ¹ tn Heb “the wicked walk all around.” One could translate v. 8a as an independent clause, in which case it would be a concluding observation in proverbial style. The present translation assumes that v. 8a is a subordinate explanatory clause, or perhaps a subordinate temporal clause (“while the wicked walk all around”). The adverb סָבִיב (saviv, “around”), in combination with the Hitpael form of the verb “walk” (which indicates repeated action), pictures the wicked as ubiquitous. They have seemingly overrun society.

[12:8]  ² tn Heb “when evil is lifted up by the sons of man.” The abstract noun זֻלּוּת (zulut, “evil”) occurs only here. On the basis of evidence from the cognate languages (see HALOT 272 s.v.), one might propose the meaning “base character,” or “morally foolish behavior.”

[39:12]  ³ tn Heb “do not be deaf to my tears.”

[39:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “For a resident alien [am] I with you, a sojourner like all my fathers.”

[39:12]  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.

[69:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “as for me, [may] my prayer be to you, O Lord, [in] a time of favor.”

[69:13]  ⁶ tn Heb “O God, in the abundance of your loyal love, answer me in the faithfulness of your deliverance.”