The verbal phrase give a wide place for (see “given me room” in 4.1) means to provide space for military maneuvers, or else to provide freedom, so that one will not be captured. See how the related noun “a broad place” is used in verse 19.

If one is to follow the Good News Translation, “from being captured,” it may be necessary to avoid the passive construction; for example, “you have not let anyone capture me” or “you have not allowed my enemies to catch me.” On the other hand the translator may wish to keep the parallelism between steps and feet.

The relation between lines a and b is that of consequence, which Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation translate with the conjunction and at the beginning of line b. It is possible to make the consequence even more clear by sacrificing the imagery and saying, for example, “Because you kept me from being captured, I…” or “You have kept my enemies from taking me; therefore, they have never defeated me.” Translators should, however, attempt to keep the images or supply other images.

The word for feet (or, ankles) occurs only here and in 2 Samuel 22.37. The idea expressed by my feet did not slip is that the psalmist was always able to keep standing and to keep fighting his enemies.

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 .