Nielsen’s Nook

In reworking some thoughts on Psalm 70, I translated it from the Septuagint (LXX, the Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures) and found the exercise helpful and gratifying. Keep in mind the versification varies from what you would find in your English version (or other translation). The LXX counts what the Hebrew regards as an inscription as the first verse and so verse 2 here will correspond to verse 1 in your English version. Likewise it is Psalm 69 in the LXX which corresponds to Psalm 70 in the Hebrew. Here are some notes for you:

¹ For the choirmaster, to David for a memorial offering.

² O Lord, make your purpose to save me!
O God, take heed for my aid!

³ Let those who seek my life be put to utter shame, [a]
Let those who desire evil against me be turned back and be deeply shamed. [b]

⁴ Let the shameful ones, who are saying to me “Well done. Well done,” be turned back immediately.

⁵ Let all who seek you be utterly overjoyed, [a]
and let those who love your salvation say through all circumstances, “God is great!”

⁶ But I am utterly poor, O God, give aid to me!
You are my aid and my deliverer, O Lord, do not delay.

I have a previous post, translating the Hebrew. It might be interesting to compare these with a good version of the Bible like the English Standard Version:

[ a ] Both vv 3 and 5 (cf. 6) begin with a double idea joined with και for emphasis (merism: “… a single thing is referred to by a conventional phrase that enumerates several of its parts, or which lists several synonyms for the same thing.”). I attempt to render the merism using the emphatic “utterly”.

[ b ] καταισχύνω is a word used to describe the dishonor and violation of raped women. Johan Lust, Erik Eynikel and Katrin Hauspie, A Greek-English Lexicon of the Septuagint : Revised Edition (Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft: Stuttgart, 2003).