In verse 71 the psalmist repeats the thought already expressed in verse 67: the punishment he received from Yahweh was for his own good. It gave him even greater understanding of Yahweh’s statutes, in the sense that by means of this experience he learned that God’s laws are good. For learn Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “reflect on”; Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “to study.”

In verse 72 the psalmist expresses his high regard for the Torah: it is worth more to him than thousands of gold and silver pieces. He compares the law of the LORD to riches. Comparisons are structured differently in various languages. In some languages it will be necessary to translate, for example, “The law you gave me is worth much. All the money in the world is worth little” or “The law you gave me is very good; all the wealth in the world is good a little bit.”

The phrase The law of thy mouth in line a emphasizes the fact that the Torah is the personal expression of Yahweh’s will for his people. New Jerusalem Bible translates “the teaching You proclaimed.”

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 .