The two lines of verse 4 are parallel and synonymous: thy ways and thy paths refer to the conduct, the way of life that Yahweh requires of those who worship him; and the verbs Make me know and teach me mean the same in this context. Bible en français courant translates line b “teach me to live as you want me to.” It is often necessary to supply a verb in such expressions which will bring into focus the participation of the one speaking; verse 4a, for example, “Teach me to follow your ways, O LORD.” Also in verse 4b of Revised Standard Version, “Teach me to walk on the paths which you show me.”

In verse 5 Yahweh’s truth is his will for his people; some take it to mean here faithfulness, either the psalmist’s faithfulness to Yahweh or Yahweh’s faithfulness in keeping his promises (for example, “Guide me by your faithfulness”; Dahood “to walk faithful to you”; see also 26.3). The expression Lead me in thy truth, if understood to mean the will of God, can sometimes be rendered “Teach me to obey what you want your people to do” or “Show me the way you want your people to go.” If thy truth is understood as God’s faithfulness, then it is possible to speak of the psalmist’s response to that faithfulness; for example, “Make me know that I can trust you completely” or “Teach me that I can rely on you.”

Line a of verse 5 has two verbs, Lead and teach. Good News Translation has combined them, “Teach me to live,” and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has made them closely parallel, “Guide me, lead me in your truth,” which may be the best model to follow.

For the God of my salvation, see comment on 24.5; for wait see verse 3. Good News Translation “always” translates the Hebrew phrase “the whole day.”

It should be noted that New English Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, Jerusalem Bible (also New American Bible footnote) transfer the words of verse 7c, “on account of your goodness, O LORD,” to the end of verse 5. It is not necessary to do this.

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 .