The psalm concludes on a joyful note, as the psalmist describes the joy that is his after Yahweh has restored him to health. In vivid terms he portrays the change from sorrow to happiness: “You changed my mourning into a dance; you took off my sackcloth garment and clothed me with joy.” (It was customary to wear a garment made of rough sackcloth in times of mourning or distress.)
The expression turned … my mourning into dancing is a translation problem in some languages, because dancing in some areas is related to mourning and not to happiness. In such cases the translator must use the symbolism of joy to express the transformation from sorrow to happiness; for example, “you turned my sadness into singing” or “I cried in sadness for the dead, but you caused me to beat the drum for joy.”
In some language areas there is special clothing that is worn when in mourning, or special articles such as bags or paints are put on the body of the mourner. The expression thou hast loosed my sackcloth may be adapted to fit the local mourning customs; for example, “you have taken off my bag of mourning” or “you have removed my death paints.” In languages where the expression girded me with gladness will be unnatural, it is possible to make some adjustments such as “you have dressed me in clothing that shows I am glad” or “you have put on me clothing that brings me joy.”
Revised Standard Version makes verse 12 the purpose of the action described in verse 11: that my soul may…. Good News Translation takes verse 12 as the result, “So I will not….” It seems better to treat the verse as result, or consequence, and not as purpose.
In verse 12a my soul (Good News Translation “I”) translates the Hebrew “glory,” to which the Septuagint adds the first singular pronoun, giving the wording “my glory”; for this meaning of “glory” see comments on 7.5; 16.9. New Jerusalem Bible translates “[my] whole being.”11-12 Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers the Masoretic text, “glory,” and says it can be understood in two ways: (1) “I praise you”; (2) “people praise you, O Glory” (a title for God). New English Bible has “my spirit,” New International Version and New Jerusalem Bible “my heart,” and Bible en français courant “with all my heart.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible is the only translation consulted that reflects the absence of the possessive pronoun in the Hebrew text: “the soul sings to you without pause.”
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 .