In this strophe (letter gimel, verses 17-24) the psalmist reaffirms his pleasure in obeying God’s laws, even though he is persecuted and reviled by his enemies. The Good News Translation heading may require some modification for translation; for example, “The Law of the LORD makes a person happy.”
The psalmist’s very life depends on God’s continued blessing, and he promises that he will live in obedience to God’s law (verse 17). In line a he asks Yahweh to be good to him (New Jerusalem Bible “Deal kindly”; Bible en français courant “Be good to me”). The request can be translated “Do me this favor” (so New English Bible; see Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), with the following “let me live” as the favor requested. But the way Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation translate the verse seems to be better. The psalmist calls himself Yahweh’s servant, a common way for a pious Israelite to refer to himself. Revised Standard Version with thy servant is recast by Good News Translation “me, your servant” to avoid the use of third person reference to the speaker. A similar adjustment will have to be made in many languages. To live here is to continue living, to have a good life. For observe see verse 8a.
Insight into the meaning of God’s law depends not only on prolonged study and meditation; it depends also on God’s guidance. So the psalmist prays Open my eyes; only in this way can he discover the wonderful truths, or teachings, in the Law. It is God who will enable him to appreciate and understand the Law. It is better to use an expression like “wonderful teachings” than to have wondrous things or “wonderful things” (New International Version), which may not be clearly understood by the reader. In some languages one does not “see the truth” but rather “understands” it or “hears” it. Therefore the expression Open my eyes will not serve in 18a. Sometimes one must translate “Open my ears,” or “Help my mind,” or “Make my mind strong,” followed by “so that I may understand the wonderful true words of your teaching.”
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 .