The psalmist praises Yahweh for his mercy, goodness, and compassion. The word translated Gracious is used in 103.8, and the word translated merciful appears in 102.13 (“have pity”) and 103.13 (“pities”). The word that Good News Translation translates “good” is tsadiq, which most translations render “just” or righteous; here, however, the meaning seems to be more in the nature of kindness or goodness; so New Jerusalem Bible “beneficent”; Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “does mercy”; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “compassionate”; Bible en français courant “faithful.” As Toombs says, this is “justice which saves the oppressed.”

In verse 6a the simple are people who are inexperienced, untried (so Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), who are not yet able to take care of themselves. New English Bible and New International Version translate “the simple-hearted,” Dahood “the innocent.” New American Bible (like the Septuagint) has “the little ones”; it does not seem, however, that children as such are meant. Translators should take special care when translating the simple so that the word or phrase used does not denote a person who is mentally impaired or stupid. If the translator follows Good News Translation, it may be more natural to say “The LORD protects those who cannot help themselves” (so Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). It seems that the psalmist includes himself among the simple, since in the next line he refers to his own experience.

I was brought low in verse 6b is a way of speaking of “danger” (Good News Translation) or weakness (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), perhaps weakness caused by illness (see the same verb in 79.8). For saved see “Help” and comments in 12.1.

In verse 7a the text is “Return to your resting place, my nefesh,” the psalmist’s way of exhorting himself to “Be confident,” to rest assured, to be serene (New Jerusalem Bible “be at peace once again”). The noun “resting place” is the one used in 23.2, “still waters,” or “waters of rest.” For the difficulty of a dialogue with one’s own “soul” or “heart,” see comments on 103.1-2. Here Bible en français courant has “Therefore I must be calm again, for the Lord has been good to me.” Another model which translators may want to consider is Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, which has “Now I can indeed again feel at ease because the Lord has been good to me.”

In verse 7b the verb translated has dealt bountifully (Good News Translation “has been good”) appears with the same meaning in 13.6.

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 .