In verses 6-7 the psalmist instructs his fellow worshipers. For godly see comments on 4.3. The expression who is godly may require recasting as in the manner of Good News Translation; for example, “those who worship you,” “people who follow you,” or “people who belong to you.”
At a time of distress translates a conjectural Hebrew text; the Masoretic text is “in a time of finding only,” which New Jerusalem Bible translates “upon discovering [his sin]”; in the margin, “In a time when You may be found,” which is how Kirkpatrick, Weiser, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible and New International Version understand it.6 Hebrew Old Testament Text Project is less helpful than usual (“C” decision). It states that the Masoretic text may be interpreted in two ways: (1) “at the time he finds [it] (that is, his sin); only…”; (2) “for the time [when] he finds the leanness (that is, suffers from famine)”; in this interpretation the Masoretic text punctuation is not maintained. Some connect the word translated “only” to the following words and translate “surely” (King James Version, American Standard Version, The Holy Scriptures by Jewish Publication Society [Jewish Publication Version]). Toombs takes the Masoretic text to mean “at the appropriate times,” which is what the Septuagint and Vulgate have (so Bible en français courant). But many prefer to change the Masoretic text “finding only” to “trouble” (Briggs, Oesterley, Anderson, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). The Good News Translation rendering “in times of need” may have to be recast in some languages to say, for example, “when they have difficulties” or “when they are in trouble.” It seems best to follow the text translated by the majority.
It should be noted that Revised Standard Version connects at a time of distress with what follows, while Good News Translation‘s “in times of need” is connected with what precedes. The Good News Translation order seems to represent the Masoretic text lines better than does Revised Standard Version.
The troubles that threaten are likened to the rush of great waters, that is, a devastating flood (see also comments on 18.16). Revised Standard Version translates quite literally, in the rush of great waters, but it is quite certain that this is a poetic figure of speech for dangers and troubles. See Bible en français courant “If danger threatens to submerge them….” In some languages it is not natural to speak of “a flood of troubles” as in Good News Translation. This expression can sometimes be recast to say “many troubles like the waters of a flood.”
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 .