Verse 84a in Hebrew is “How many are the days of your servant?” (Revised Standard Version How long must thy servant endure?). This can mean “How much longer will I live?” (so New Jerusalem Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant, Dahood); in the context, however, it seems better to understand it to mean “How much longer must I wait?” (that is, for Yahweh to save him, as in verses 81, 82; so Good News Translation, New English Bible, New International Version, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). For thy servant see verse 17a. The psalmist is impatient for God to judge his persecutors (verse 84b); in the context the verb judge implies punishment. New Jerusalem Bible and New Jerusalem Bible translate well: “When will You bring my persecutors to judgment?”

The psalmist’s enemies are again called Godless men, or better, “Proud men” (verse 85a; see verse 51). They have dug pitfalls, which is another figure taken from hunting, in which a pit is dug into which the animal will fall (see similar figure in verse 61a). They are trying to trap the psalmist, either to take him prisoner or else to lead him to wrong conduct (see similar language in 35.7 and 57.6). Biblia Dios Habla Hoy translates “grave” (and not “pits”), which does not seem likely.

In verse 85b who do not conform to thy law translates the Hebrew “which (or, who) not according to your law.” This can mean that what they do is contrary to Yahweh’s law (New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible); but it seems better, with the majority, to take this as a description of the enemies: they disregard God’s 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 .