The opening cry to the LORD for help is couched in the familiar language of laments. See similar and sometimes identical language: for verse 1, see 39.12; 18.6; for verse 2a-b see 13.1; 27.9a; 69.17a; for verse 2b, see 13.1b; 27.9a; 69.17a; for verse 2c (in Good News Translation), see 17.6b; 31.2; 71.2b; and for verse 2d, see 69.17b. In some languages my prayer and my cry may have to be recast as verbs; for example, “Listen to me when I pray and when I cry for help.”

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 .