In verse 28a the psalmist again refers to his situation: My soul melts away for sorrow. The Hebrew verb may mean “to weep, fill with tears” (see Bible en français courant), or else “be sleepless” (see New English Bible “I cannot rest”; New International Version “weary”). Delitzsch explains: “melting away in the trickling down of tears.” The meaning can be expressed, somewhat idiomatically, “My sadness is about to kill me”; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has a vivid expression: “I have drowned in tears of pain.” In some languages there are idiomatic expressions for 28a; for example, “My heart melts like sugar because I am sorrowful.” In some languages strong emotions act as agents of events; for example, “Sorrow takes hold of me” or “Sorrow strangles me.”

Verse 28b is similar to verse 25b; here the verb strengthen suggests the psalmist’s condition is not as serious as portrayed in verse 25a.

Once more (verse 29) the psalmist pleads with Yahweh to keep him faithful to his law. Line a is somewhat like verse 10b; the psalmist asks Yahweh to keep him from wrong conduct, deceitful practices. Line b, which is like verses 12b, 26b, may be rendered as New Jerusalem Bible has it, “Favor me with your teaching” (also Biblia Dios Habla Hoy); New Jerusalem Bible “grant me the grace of your Law,” and New English Bible “grant me the grace of living by your law.” Graciously teach me thy law may have to be recast as another kind of command, saying, for example, “be good to me and teach me your law.”

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 .