Verse 78 is another plea that Yahweh will punish the psalmist’s enemies, the godless (that is, “the arrogant”; see verse 51); for be put to shame see verse 31b. In languages which will not use the passive in godless be put to shame, it will be necessary to say something like “God, put the proud to shame,” or idiomatically sometimes, “God, make the proud have burning faces.” They accuse the psalmist falsely. Revised Standard Version they have subverted me with guile is not easy to understand. A clearer and more natural translation is provided by New English Bible, “with their lies they wrong me” (also New American Bible “for oppressing me unjustly”; New International Version “for wronging me without cause”; New Jerusalem Bible “they have wronged me without cause”). For verse 78c see verse 15a.
In verse 79 the psalmist prays that faithful fellow Israelites come to him to be instructed about God’s laws. Revised Standard Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant, and Dahood in verse 79b follow one form of the Masoretic text, that they may know; Good News Translation, New English Bible, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, New Jerusalem Bible, and Bible de Jérusalem follow another form of the text, “even those who know.” “That they may know” is ketiv (also Targum); the appositional “and those who know” is qere (also the Septuagint, Syriac, Jerome). Turn to me and Good News Translation‘s “come to me” may have to be recast to avoid ambiguity. In some languages one may say, for example, “bring to me those who honor you” or “let those … unite with me.”
The strophe closes (verse 80) with a fervent resolution to obey Yahweh’s commandments. Revised Standard Version‘s language in line a is unnecessarily unintelligent and unnatural; the meaning is clearly expressed in normal English by New Jerusalem Bible, “May I wholeheartedly follow Your laws.” Be put to shame echoes the same verb in 78a.
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 .