In these verses the psalmist recalls the time when the people put God to the test (see 78.18, 41, 56; 95.9) by asking for food, which he gave in the form of manna and quails (Num 11.4-6, 31-35; Psa 78.17-31). In verse 13b counsel or “plan” (New Jerusalem Bible) reflects the people’s unwillingness to follow God’s will. Here Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, and Bible en français courant translate “they did not wait for God to act,” which fits very well with what follows. Wait for his counsel must often be recast as a verb phrase; for example, “They did not wait to see what God wanted them to do.”
In verse 14a the wanton craving in the Hebrew is the intense craving they felt for the good, fresh food they used to eat in Egypt (see Num 11.4-6, and see comments on Psa 78.29-31). The Hebrew has two completely synonymous words in verse 14, which Revised Standard Version translates wilderness and desert (see New Jerusalem Bible “wilderness” and “wasteland”); there is no difference in meaning between the two words. Wanton craving and Good News Translation‘s “filled with craving” do not indicate the nature of the desire. In languages in which the object of such a desire must be expressed, it will be necessary to say, for example, “they craved food” or “they had a great desire for food.” Many languages have specific words for various kinds of hunger: for meat, salty food, sweet, or sour foods. Here the most generic should be used. For put God to the test, see comments on this statement in 78.41.
God answers their request (verse 15a) but also does something else. In verse 15b among them translates “in their nefeshes” (see 3.2); some take it here to mean “their throats” (New English Bible footnote). Traduction œcuménique de la Bible translates the line “but he sent far too little for their appetite” (that is, too little to satisfy their hunger), but this interpretation is not recommended. Bible en français courant prefers the Septuagint and Syriac: “he satisfied them until they were nauseated” (see Num 11.19-20).
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 .