The psalmist prays to live to see and share in the deliverance of his people, when Yahweh will take them out of exile to their own land (see verse 47). Instead of the Masoretic text me twice in verse 4, two Hebrew manuscripts and the Septuagint have the plural “us” (which Bible en français courant prefers). The Masoretic text should be followed here. In verse 4a the verb “show favor” is defined as “deliver” in line b; and in line b the verb translated by Revised Standard Version help has the sense of “look in on” (see comments on “care for” in 8.4). The sense of line b is that the psalmist wants to be among the people when Yahweh saves them.

In verse 5a Good News Translation “your people” translates thy chosen ones, and “those who belong to you” in line c translates “your inheritance” (see 28.9). That I may glory translates the same form of the verb halal used in 105.3a. But it is desirable to translate line c in a clearer and more understandable manner than Good News Translation has done–at least to make clear that the verb “share” is implicit before “in the glad pride.” Or, joining verses 4 and 5, it may be better to translate as follows:

• 4 Remember me, LORD, when you help your people;
when you save them, also save me,
5 so that I may see your people prosper again,
and I may be happy together with them,
and share the pride of those who belong to you.

In some languages Remember me will carry the force of “recall who I am,” which presupposes that the person to be remembered has become forgotten. In such cases it may be better to say “Do not forget 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 .