Mazmur 71:21

71:21 Raise me to a position of great honor! ¹ 

Turn and comfort me! ² 

Mazmur 119:82

119:82 My eyes grow tired as I wait for your promise to be fulfilled. ³ 

I say, ⁴  “When will you comfort me?”

[71:21]  ¹ tn Heb “increase my greatness.” The prefixed verbal form is distinctly jussive, indicating this is a prayer or wish. The psalmist’s request for “greatness” (or “honor”) is not a boastful, self-serving prayer for prominence, but, rather, a request that God would vindicate by elevating him over those who are trying to humiliate him.

[71:21]  ² tn The imperfects are understood here as expressing the psalmist’s prayer or wish. (Note the use of a distinctly jussive form at the beginning of v. 21.)

[119:82]  ³ tn Heb “my eyes fail for your word.” The psalmist has intently kept his eyes open, looking for God to intervene, but now his eyes are watery and bloodshot, impairing his vision. See Ps 69:3.

[119:82]  ⁴ tn Heb “saying.”