Chapter Overview
Summary
Psalm 70 (MT) / Psalm 69 (LXX) is a near-duplicate of Psalm 40:14–18 — the final-petition section of Ps 40 is here preserved as a freestanding urgent-petition psalm. The duplication suggests early-liturgical adaptation: the petition extracted from its thanksgiving-context for use as stand-alone prayer. The psalm's opening 'make haste, O God, to deliver me' (v. 1) became the opening-versicle for every hour of the Christian Liturgy of the Hours (Deus in adiutorium meum intende).
Notable Variants
70 // Ps 40:14–18 as freestanding petition; 70:1 'Deus in adiutorium' as opening-versicle of all Christian Divine-Office hours; the 'aha, aha' mocking-formula (v. 3) recurring at Ps 35:21 and the crucifixion-mockery.
Structural Notes
MT Ps 70 = LXX Ps 69. 6 verses (MT/LXX), 5 verses (English). // Ps 40:14–18.
For the director of music. Of David. For remembrance.
Superscription tracks MT. 'For the memorial' (lehazkir) — same superscription as Ps 38, possibly referencing the memorial-portion of offerings.
God, come to rescue me! LORD, hurry to help me!
'O God, make haste to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me!' tracks MT. // Ps 40:14. DEUS IN ADIUTORIUM. Latin Vulgate: 'Deus, in adiutorium meum intende; Domine, ad adiuvandum me festina.' This verse became the OPENING VERSICLE for every hour of the Christian Liturgy of the Hours — Matins, Lauds, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, Compline. The Rule of St. Benedict (c. 540) prescribes its use: 'at the opening of every Hour, this verse should be recited.' Every monk and nun of the Western tradition has begun every hour of every day with these words for fifteen centuries.
Let those who seek my life be put to shame and humiliated; let those who desire my ruin be driven back and disgraced.
'Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life!' tracks MT. // Ps 40:15.
Let those who say "Aha! Aha!" be turned back because of their shame.
'Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who say: Aha, aha!' tracks MT. // Ps 40:16. 'Aha, aha' (euge, euge) mocking-formula — recurring at Ps 35:21 and the crucifixion-mockers (Matt 27:39, Mark 15:29).
Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; let those who love your deliverance say always, "God is great!"
'May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore: God is great!' tracks MT. // Ps 40:17.
But I — I am poor and needy. God, hurry to me! You are my help and my deliverer; LORD, do not delay!
'But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God!' tracks MT. // Ps 40:18. Self-designation as 'poor and needy' (anī ve-evyon / ptōchos kai penēs) — the anawim-identity.