In this final strophe (letter taw, verses 169-176) the psalmist mixes petition for God’s help with praise for the Law. The heading of this strophe is essentially the same as the heading of verses 153-160.

The first two verses are parallel; the first line of both is a prayer for help, and in the second line are additional requests, based on Yahweh’s promise to save. The verb in verse 169a “to bring near” is used also of sacrifices, and the psalmist may have thought of his prayer as a sacrifice offered to God (see verse 108). New English Bible takes cry in verse 169a to be “cry of joy.” The Hebrew verb in verse 170a is not the same as in verse 169a; the two, however, are synonymous. And in both lines before thee translates “before your face,” that is, “into your presence.” This is a way of asking Yahweh to hear and respond to the psalmist’s plea. Let my cry come before thee will often have to be recast in translation to say, for example, “Hear my cry,” or “Listen to my prayer” as in Good News Translation verse 170. For give me understanding in verse 169b, see verses 125a, 144b.

For deliver me in verse 170b, see synonymous verbs in verses 153a and 146a. Good News Translation‘s “according to your promise” must often be recast to say “because you have promised me.”

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 .