By reason of mine affliction. — See margin. There is a close correspondence between this opening and that of Psalms 120 Comp. also Psalms 18:6.
Out of the belly of hell. — This remarkable expression — a forcible figure for imminent death — has its nearest parallel in Isaiah 5:14, where sheôl (see Psalms 6:5) is represented as opening a huge mouth to swallow the princes of the world and their pomp. The under-world represents the Hebrew word sheôl more nearly than hell or the grave (margin). (Comp. Psalms 18:5; Psalms 30:3.)
And thou heardest... — The conjunction is unnecessarily introduced. The sudden change of person, a frequent figure in Hebrew poetry, is more striking without the connecting word.