This strophe (verses 17-22) takes up the plight of those who had been sick and near death; these people also are exhorted to thank Yahweh for having saved them.

Verse 17 begins in Hebrew with the word “fools”: “fools because of their evil ways and because of their iniquities they suffered.” This construction is rather strange, and so there are many who replace the Masoretic text “fools” with the word “sick, feeble”: Briggs, Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy. The majority follow the Masoretic text; Dahood takes the Masoretic text to mean “enfeebled.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers the Masoretic text, and Bible en français courant translates the Masoretic text as follows: “Others showed they had gone out of their minds, for they behaved so badly. On account of their wrong they were crushed with suffering.” New English Bible translates “Some were fools, they took to rebellious ways, and for their transgressions they suffered punishment.” This, however, in line a disregards the preposition “from (their sinful way),” which ties the phrase to the preceding “fools.” New Jerusalem Bible is best: “There were fools who suffered for their sinful way, and for their iniquities.” “Fools” here are people who are spiritually and morally foolish, that is, who disregard God’s laws; and so these people suffered because of their sins and their evil.

In their wretched condition they (literally “their nefesh”) “hated” any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death (see similar idea in 9.13). The figure pictures the world of the dead, Sheol, as a city with gates, waiting to receive those who die. For the verb “hated” (loathed) in the sense of “abhorred,” see 106.40b.

Verse 19 is exactly like verse 13.

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 .