For the phrase For thy name’s sake in verse 11a, see comment at 23.3.

The verb translated pardon (Good News Translation “forgive”) in verse 11 is used in the Psalms only here and at 103.3; the related adjective “forgiving” appears in 86.5 and nowhere else in the Old Testament.

Guilt is the (painful) awareness of having sinned, the sense of being culpable of wrongdoing. But the Hebrew word in this context is better represented by the wrong or evil actions performed, that is, wickedness (New English Bible), iniquity (New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version), sin (New Jerusalem Bible), evil (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), wrongdoings (Bible en français courant). See its use in 18.23a, where the same comment applies.

The question in verse 12a (Revised Standard Version) is not a request for information but is a forceful way of identifying the person whom Yahweh instructs in line b. Such a literary device is not very common in English and may be misunderstood by the reader. Consequently Good News Translation has used a descriptive statement (using the plural form), “Those who obey the LORD.” Another way of handling this is “Whoever obeys the LORD….” Or else, “If anyone wants to obey the LORD, the LORD will teach that person the way (or, path) to follow.” For the phrase “fear the LORD,” see comments at 5.7.

If in verse 12b the translator chooses to keep the focus on Yahweh as the main actor, the translation can be “will be taught by him” (instead of “will learn from him”). If the verb “to teach,” with its possible implications of a classroom, is not naturally applied to God in this context, the more general verb “to show” or “to tell” can be used.

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 .