Perhaps the dominant note in this strophe (letter beth, verses 9-16) is that of joy, happiness (verses 14, 16), and eagerness to obey completely the law of Yahweh (verses 10, 11, 15). It can be inferred from verse 9a that the psalmist himself was a young man (and see verse 100), but this is not necessarily so. The Good News Translation heading may have to be adapted for use in other languages by saying something like “The person who obeys the LORD’s Law will be happy,” or “I will obey the LORD’s Law,” or “I will do what the LORD teaches.”
In verse 9a way means conduct, behavior, way of living (see verse 1a); pure here means free from sin, free from fault. In verse 9b the form of the Hebrew text seems to be “to keep according to your word”; so Revised Standard Version By guarding it according to thy word, supplying it (that is, his way of the preceding line) as the object of the verb. But the Hebrew preposition that Revised Standard Version translates according to may be regarded as an emphatic particle (see Anderson), in which case “your word” is taken as the direct object; so Good News Translation “By obeying your commands” (see New English Bible, New American Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Bible en français courant). The Masoretic text has the singular “your word”; many Hebrew manuscripts have the plural, which Good News Translation prefers, “your commands.” It is important that the translator use the format in the receptor language which will make clear that the psalmist is first asking a question, then answering his own question. In some languages this requires putting the question and reply in a different form from the English; for example, “I ask myself…” and “I say in reply….”
For verse 10a see verse 2b. Translators should note that Revised Standard Version keep in verse 2b has a different meaning from Good News Translation verse 10b. In the former it means to obey. In the latter “keep me from” means “do not let me” or “prevent me from”; therefore “do not let me disobey your commands.” The negative request let me not wander, that is, depart from, abandon, disregard, can be expressed in a positive way, “keep me true (or, faithful) to your commandments.”
In verse 11 the psalmist proclaims his determination not to sin against Yahweh, that is, not to disobey any of his commands; so he treasures Yahweh’s word in his heart. The verb Revised Standard Version translates I have laid up means “store up, treasure, hide away”; here it may mean to memorize the Law. This meaning seems to be supported by verse 13, which speaks of the recitation of all the laws that Yahweh has given his people (see also verse 15a). The singular thy word in verse 11a may mean “your promise” (so New English Bible; New Jerusalem Bible “In my heart I treasure Your promise”). In languages in which it will not be natural to “store things in the heart,” it may be necessary to say, for example, “I have memorized your words” or “I have learned your words and put them in my heart.”
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 .