In verse 13 the Hebrew text begins “You pushed me hard” (see Revised Standard Version footnote). This can scarcely be addressed to Yahweh, so most take it to be addressed to the enemy. Dahood, who agrees with this view, takes the enemy to be death. New Jerusalem Bible translates “You pressed,” with a note identifying the pronoun as the enemy; Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has a note which says that “You” refers either to God or to the enemy. Good News Translation assumes the enemy is meant, and represents the meaning by an impersonal passive; others use the impersonal third person plural (see Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy); Revised Standard Version and other translations follow the Septuagint, Jerome, and Syriac, which have the passive, I was pushed hard. The psalmist refers to his near defeat, with the statement I was falling. This can be translated “I was about to be defeated.”

In verse 14a the Hebrew seems to mean The LORD is my strength and my song. Some suggest, however, that the noun translated song means “strength” here and in the similar passages Exodus 15.2; Isaiah 12.2 (see K-B, Holladay). So Bible en français courant “The Lord is my mighty strength.” If the meaning is taken to be song, the sense is that the LORD is the subject of the psalmist’s song of praise (see Anderson). Traduction œcuménique de la Bible takes song to mean a war cry: “He is my strength and my war cry!” The LORD in this verse translates Yah, as in verse 5.

In verse 14b he has become my salvation is parallel with the LORD helped me in verse 13b.

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 .