Concerning the "Psalm of Nephi" (2 Nephi 4:16-35), Noel Reynolds notes that Nephi apparently owes some of the structure and content to a prayer of Zenos recorded on the brass plates and used by Alma to teach the people of Antionum about true worship of the Lord (see Alma 33:4-11). While Alma quotes Zenos's prayer as proof that Zenos knew of the Son of God, Nephi appears to have applied the sentiments and language of the prayer to his own trying circumstances, finding in Zenos's words a source of encouragement and faith in the face of hostility and affliction. Nephi ends his psalm with a prayer of approximately the same length and in a style similar to Zenos's prayer text. Comparing the two we find the following:
(Psalm of Nephi)
(Prayer of Zenos)
Nephi uses the invocation "O God" or "O Lord six times (2 Nephi 4:30,31,32,33,34)
Zenos uses the invocation "O God" or "O Lord" five times (Alma 33:4,5,6,7,9)
Nephi begins his psalm by recognizing the Lord's great goodness in showing him "his great and marvelous works" (2 Nephi 4:17)
Zenos also begins by acknowledging God's mercy in hearing his prayers (Alma 33:4)
Nephi lists many occasions when he received blessings from God in response to his cry and "mighty prayer," citing first how God supported him and led him through his "affliction in the wilderness" (2 Nephi 4:20)
Zenos lists the many places in which the Lord heard his prayers, citing first an occasion when he was in the wilderness. (Alma 33:4,5,6,7,9,10)
Nephi knows that "God will give liberally to him that asketh" (2 Nephi 4:35)
Zenos emphasizes that because the Lord did hear him in his afflictions, he will continue to cry to him "in all mine afflictions" (Alma 33:11)
Nephi expects to be blessed "because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite" (2 Nephi 4:32)
Zenos asserts generally that God is "merciful unto [his] children when they cry unto [him], to be heard of [him] and not of men." (Alma 33:8)
Nephi seeks help in dealing with "[his] enemies." He prays for help against the "enemy of [his] soul," who tempts him and destroys his peace, the "evil one" who seeks a place in his heart (2 Nephi 4:27-28), referring to this "enemy" three times. We get a clear picture that Nephi's enemies included his own brothers who "did seek to take away [his] life} (2 Nephi 5:1-2), and Nephi reports that the Lord "confounded [his] enemies" (2 Nephi 4:22).
Zenos also seeks help in dealing with "[his] enemies." The Lord answered Zenos's prayer by turning his enemies to him (Alma 33:4). Zenos states that he had been "cast out" and "despised" by his enemies, and that upon hearing his cries the Lord was angry with them and did "visit them in [his] anger with speedy destruction" (Alma 33:10)
Nephi makes direct reference to the Atonement of Christ and the joy he can find through it. Nephi asks himself why he should be depressed or feel such sorrow when "the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy" (2 Nephi 4:26; cf. 1 Nephi 11:16-25).
Zenos also makes direct reference to the Atonement and its joy. Zenos explains God's mercy in terms of the Son and recognizes that it is "because of [God's] Son" that "[God has] turned [his] judgments away from [him]" (Alma 33:11)
Nephi ends by saying: "My soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation" (2 Nephi 4:30)
Zenos ends by saying: "In thee is my joy" (Alma 33:11)
[Noel B. Reynolds, "Nephite Uses and Interpretations of Zenos," in The Allegory of the Olive Tree, pp. 34-36] [See the commentary on Alma 33:3-11]
2 Nephi 4:16-35 (Psalm of Nephi) [[Illustration]]: Chart comparing the Psalm of Nephi with the Prayer of Zenos. [Constructed from information taken from Noel B. Reynolds, "Nephite Uses and Interpretations of Zenos," in The Allegory of the Olive Tree, pp. 34-36]