It is not certain precisely what thou dost meet him refers to; some take it to mean at the time of the king’s return from battle. More than likely it is a way of saying that, in answer to the king’s prayer, Yahweh gave him goodly blessings, that is, fine or special blessings, not only for him personally but for his people as well. In the sense that God gives blessings to the king, line a may be rendered “You, God, received the king and gave him good gifts” or “You, God, welcomed the king and gave him good things.”
Line b of verse 3 refers clearly to the day the king was crowned; some, however, take the words to mean a new proclamation of the king’s sovereignty (see 1 Sam 11.13-15). Revised Standard Version (also Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) translates verse 3 with the English present tense of the verbs, and Good News Translation (also New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible) with the past tense. The past tense in English seems better here, referring to a specific event. The present tense implies continuous or repeated action.
In verse 4 life means not just longevity as such, but a long and prosperous reign; and what the LORD gave the king was not immortality, but “a long and lasting life” (see also Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). Some, however, like Dahood, think this means eternal life, or else it means children, through whom the king would continue to live. Anderson refers to the language of the royal court, in which petition was made that the king live “forever” (see 1 Kgs 1.31; Neh 2.3; Dan 2.4); see also Psalm 23.6. Life must often be recast as a verb phrase. Furthermore the expression He asked life of thee must often be rendered as a causative; for example, “He asked that you make him to live,” or idiomatically, “He asked that you make his eyes see well for many many years.”
The heightening which is evident in verse 4 can be rendered, for example, “He asked you for life, and you gave it to him, indeed, you gave him a very long and lasting life” or “He asked for life…, you gave him even more than that, you gave him….”
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 .