Psalms 89:50

the reproach of thy servants The taunts which they have to bear as the servants of a God Who, say their enemies, cannot or will not help them. Cp. Psalms 74:10; Psalms 74:18; Psalms 74:22; Psalms 79:4; Psalms 79:10.

how I do bear&c. The Massoretic text must be rendered, How I do bear in my bosom all the many peoples. It is grammatically anomalous and gives no satisfactory sense. A simple emendation, which has some support from Ancient Versions, reads thus:

How I bear in my bosom the dishonouring of the peoples.

Cp. the similar phrase with the same word for -dishonouring" (A.V. shame) in Ezekiel 34:29; Ezekiel 36:6; Ezekiel 36:15. As a faithful Israelite he must perforce bear the burden of his people's shame.