Psalm 109:22–25

109:22 For I am oppressed and needy,

and my heart beats violently within me.41

109:23 I am fading away like a shadow at the end of the day;42

I am shaken off like a locust.

109:24 I am so starved my knees shake;43

I have turned into skin and bones.44

109:25 I am disdained by them.45

When they see me, they shake their heads.46

41	tc The verb in the Hebrew text (חָלַל, khalal) appears to be a Qal form from the root חלל meaning “pierced; wounded.” However, the Qal of this root is otherwise unattested. The translation assumes an emendation to יָחִיל (yakhil), a Qal imperfect from חוּל (khul, “tremble”) or to חֹלַל (kholal), a polal perfect from חוּל (khul). See Ps 55:4, which reads לִבִּי יָחִיל בְּקִרְבִּי (libbiy yakhil béqirbbiy, “my heart trembles [i.e., “beats violently”] within me”).
42	tn Heb “like a shadow when it is extended I go.” He is like a late afternoon shadow made by the descending sun that will soon be swallowed up by complete darkness. See Ps 102:11.
43	tn Heb “my knees stagger from fasting.”
44	tn Heb “and my flesh is lean away from fatness [i.e., “lean so as not to be fat”].”
45	tn Heb “as for me, I am a reproach to them.”
46	sn They shake their heads. Apparently shaking the head was a taunting gesture. See also Job 16:4; Ps 22:7; Lam 2:15.