The psalmist voices his complaint; in despair he calls to God. In some languages cry aloud has the meaning of “shout.” In the present context it is often necessary to employ a verb which means to mourn or to lament. In other languages the verb phrase cry aloud must be accompanied by a direct object; for example, “I cry aloud my complaint.”

Good News Translation “and he hears me” at the end of verse 1 is what the form and tense of the Hebrew verb normally mean (see the Septuagint, New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). But the whole strophe (verses 1-3) seems to indicate that God had not listened to the psalmist, so An American Translation and Revised Standard Version that he may hear me seems more appropriate (similarly New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). Dahood translates it as an imperative, “give ear at once.”

In verse 2, In the day of my trouble may also be rendered “When I am in trouble.” For seek, meaning “pray to,” see 9.10 and comments. My hand is stretched out (that is, “I lift my hands”) is the position for prayer (see comments on 28.2). Good News Translation “all night long” (verse 2b) represents the force of in the night combined with without wearying; see Bible en français courant “without relaxing.” In verse 2c my soul (see 3.2) is parallel with my spirit in verse 3b; both are ways to refer to the psalmist’s feelings and emotions. Revised Standard Version my soul refuses to be comforted can be expressed more naturally: “but nothing brings me any comfort.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible and Bible en français courant translate “I don’t let anyone comfort me.” Where Revised Standard Version uses my soul refuses…, some languages will prefer to represent the whole of the person by means of another part; for example, “my heart, my liver, my throat refuses….” In cases where the part of the body representing the personality does not express volition on its own, it is better to follow Good News Translation. In languages where it is necessary to express the one who fails to provide comfort for the sufferer, it is possible to say, for example, “God does not comfort me.”

I moan in verse 3a represents discomfort, despair; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy translates “I cry.” And in verse 3b my spirit faints can be translated “I lose all hope” or “I sink into despair” (Bible en français courant “I lose courage”). In verse 3b meditate is parallel with and means the same as think in verse 3a, and in many languages they are the same expression. In languages in which think of God and meditate are expressed in the same way, it may be necessary to say, for example, “When I think of God, I moan and I feel discouraged.”

For Selah see 3.2.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .