In verse 5 the psalmist, in order to comfort himself, remembers all that Yahweh has done in the past on behalf of his people. Three synonymous verbs are used: remember … meditate … muse (see similar language in 77.5, 11-12). In verse 5c what thy hands have wrought in this context means Yahweh’s deeds in Israel’s history (see 92.4), not the creation of the world, as in some other passages.

Trusting in Yahweh’s willingness to help and save, the psalmist raises his hands to Yahweh in prayer (as in 141.2b). In language similar to 42.1-2 and 63.1, he compares his longing for God to parched land that is thirsty for rain (verse 6b). In Hebrew the line is simply “my nefesh like dry ground (is) to you” (that is, wants you); New Jerusalem Bible has “longing for You like thirsty earth.” In some languages it may be necessary to fill out the comparison; for example, “I thirst for you like dry ground thirsts for rain.” In other languages the metaphor of “thirsting for God” will not make sense. In those cases it is often necessary to say “I need you like dry ground needs rain.”

For Selah see 3.2. Here it occurs at the end of the first half of the psalm.

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 .