Psalms 77

Psalms 77:1

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Psalms 77:2

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Psalms 77:4

1 sn Psalms 42. The psalmist recalls how he once worshiped in the Lord’s temple, but laments that he is now oppressed by enemies in a foreign land. Some medieval Hebrew mss combine Psalms 42 and 43 into a single psalm.

2 tn The meaning of the Hebrew term מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is uncertain. The word is derived from a verb meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.” Various options are: “a contemplative song,” “a song imparting moral wisdom,” or “a skillful [i.e., well-written] song.” The term occurs in the superscriptions of Pss 32, 42, 44, 45, 52-55, 74, 78, 88, 89, and 142, as well as in Psalms 47:7.

3 tn Since the accompanying verb is feminine in form, the noun אָיִּל (‘ayyil, “male deer”) should be emended to אַיֶּלֶת (‘ayyelet, “female deer”). Haplography of the letter tav has occurred; note that the following verb begins with tav.

4 tn Or “pants [with thirst].”

5 tn Or “my soul pants [with thirst].” The Hebrew term נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) with a pronominal suffix is often equivalent to a pronoun, especially in poetry (see BDB 660 s.v. נֶפֶשׁ 4.a).

Psalms 77:5

6 tn Or “my soul thirsts.”

7 tn The words “I say” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarification.

8 tn Heb “When will I go and appear [to] the face of God?” Some emend the Niphal verbal form אֵרָאֶה (’era’eh, “I will appear”) to a Qal אֶרְאֶה (’er’eh, “I will see”; see Genesis 33:10), but the Niphal can be retained if one understands ellipsis of אֶת (’et) before “face” (see Exodus 34:24; Deuteronomy 31:11).

Psalms 77:6

9 tn Heb “My tears have become my food day and night.”

10 tn Heb “when [they] say to me all the day.” The suffixed third masculine plural pronoun may have been accidentally omitted from the infinitive בֶּאֱמֹר (be’ÿmor, “when [they] say”). Note the term בְּאָמְרָם (bÿ’omram, “when they say”) in v. 10.

Psalms 77:7

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Psalms 77:8

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Psalms 77:9

17 The Bible.org ministry has provided the NET Bible® at no cost for inclusion in this Bible study software. You can learn about bible.org’s Ministry First model where we share the NET Bible and thousands of other copyrighted biblical materials at www.bible.org/ministryfirst . Ministry First means what it implies, that we’ve chosen to put ministry ahead of money. We believe that the Bible teaches the ministry first concept very clearly – and we think everyone in the world should have free access to trustworthy Bibles and study materials. Tell your friends to get their free NET Bible and free access to thousands of trustworthy Bible study materials online at www.bible.org . This free NET Bible® module includes all the translators’ notes for the first chapter of each book plus all the notes on verses 1-3 for the remaining 1,123 chapters in the Bible.

We encourage you to upgrade this free version to the premier full NET Bible® version containing all 60,932 notes. This is the most complete set of translators’ notes in any Bible translation and illuminates many important issues of translation and interpretation. You can upgrade by going to www.bible.org/upgrade where you can purchase the full NET Bible or even download basic versions with all 60,932 translators’ notes for free! Your purchases and donations help ensure the ongoing supply of new resources and tools from Bible.org, which is the world’s largest source of trustworthy – and free – Bible study materials.

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Psalms 77:10

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Psalms 77:11

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Psalms 77:12

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Psalms 77:13

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Psalms 77:14

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Psalms 77:16

1 sn Psalms 43. Many medieval Hebrew mss combine Psalms 43 and Psalms 42 into one psalm. Psalms 43 is the only psalm in Book 2 of the Psalter (Psalms 42-72) that does not have a heading, suggesting that it was originally the third and concluding section of Psalm 42. Psalms 43:5 is identical to the refrain in Psalms 42:11 and almost identical to the refrain in Psalms 42:5.

2 tn Or “argue my case.”

3 tn The imperfect here expresses a request or wish. Note the imperatives in the first half of the verse. See also v. 3.

4 tn Heb “from the deceitful and evil man.” The Hebrew text uses the singular form “man” in a collective sense, as the reference to a “nation” in the parallel line indicates.

Psalms 77:17

5 tn Heb “God of my place of refuge,” that is, “God who is my place of refuge.” See Psalms 31:4.

6 tn The question is similar to that of Ps 42:9, but זָנַח (zanakh, “reject”) is a stronger verb than שָׁכַח (shakhakh, “forget”).

7 tn The language is similar to that of Ps 42:9, but the Hitpael form of the verb הָלַךְ (halakh; as opposed to the Qal form in 42:9) expresses more forcefully the continuing nature of the psalmist’s distress.

8 sn Walk around mourning. See Psalms 38:6 for a similar statement.

Psalms 77:18

9 tn Heb “send.”

10 sn God’s deliverance is compared here to a light which will lead the psalmist back home to the Lord’s temple. Divine deliverance will in turn demonstrate the Lord’s faithfulness to his people.

11 tn Or “may they lead me.” The prefixed verbal forms here and in the next line may be taken as jussives.

12 tn Heb “bring.”

13 sn In this context the Lord’s holy hill is Zion/Jerusalem. See Isaiah 66:20; Joel 2:1; 3:17; Zechariah 8:3; Psalms 2:6; 15:1; 48:1; 87:1; Daniel 9:16.

14 tn Or “to your dwelling place[s].” The plural form of the noun may indicate degree or quality; this is the Lord’s special dwelling place (see Psalms 46:4; 84:1; 132:5, 7).

Psalms 77:19

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Psalms 77:20

18 The Bible.org ministry has provided the NET Bible® at no cost for inclusion in this Bible study software. You can learn about bible.org’s Ministry First model where we share the NET Bible and thousands of other copyrighted biblical materials at www.bible.org/ministryfirst . Ministry First means what it implies, that we’ve chosen to put ministry ahead of money. We believe that the Bible teaches the ministry first concept very clearly – and we think everyone in the world should have free access to trustworthy Bibles and study materials. Tell your friends to get their free NET Bible and free access to thousands of trustworthy Bible study materials online at www.bible.org . This free NET Bible® module includes all the translators’ notes for the first chapter of each book plus all the notes on verses 1-3 for the remaining 1,123 chapters in the Bible.

We encourage you to upgrade this free version to the premier full NET Bible® version containing all 60,932 notes. This is the most complete set of translators’ notes in any Bible translation and illuminates many important issues of translation and interpretation. You can upgrade by going to www.bible.org/upgrade where you can purchase the full NET Bible or even download basic versions with all 60,932 translators’ notes for free! Your purchases and donations help ensure the ongoing supply of new resources and tools from Bible.org, which is the world’s largest source of trustworthy – and free – Bible study materials.

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