A new note is struck in this strophe (letter teth, verses 65-72), with the recognition that the psalmist’s sufferings are of value to him because they turn him even more strongly to obeying God’s laws (verses 67, 71). He sees his sufferings as divine punishment, and so he does not complain.
Each verse in this strophe begins with the letter teth; verses 65, 66, 68, 71, and 72 start with the word Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, “good.” The Good News Translation heading in more complete form can be “The Law of the LORD is the most valuable thing” or “The psalmist says the Law of the LORD is worth more than wealth.”
The psalmist confesses that Yahweh has been good to him, has blessed him: Thou hast dealt well with thy servant. The verbal phrase in Hebrew is “You have done good”; a more natural English idiom is “You have treated (your servant) well.” New Jerusalem Bible has “You have been generous.” For thy servant see verse 17a; and according to thy word in line b means “as you have promised.” New International Version takes line a as a request: “Do good to your servant”; this does not seem likely. Good News Translation and Bible en français courant reverse the two lines of verse 65, for a more natural statement.
The request in verse 66a is for good judgment and knowledge; in the context this is a request for greater knowledge of God’s Law and for good sense in applying it in daily life. Bible en français courant translates “Teach me to value and to know your commandments.” Teach me good judgment must be adjusted in some languages to say, for example, “Teach me how to decide matters well” or “Show me how to make good decisions.”
In verse 66b the Hebrew verb “to be firm” may be translated as “trust” (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), “have confidence” (Bible en français courant), or believe (Revised Standard Version, New International Version); New Jerusalem Bible has “rely.”
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 .