Verse 6 is a tricolon, or three-line verse: “The poor man cried / The LORD heard him / and saved him from his troubles.” The same thoughts are embodied in a two-line arrangement in verse 17 and have echoes in verses 4 and 19. Such repetition contributes to the unity of the psalm.

Revised Standard Version This poor man in verse 6a takes the phrase to be a reference to the psalmist himself (so New English Bible, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). Good News Translation takes it to be generic, referring to all who are “helpless.” The translator will have to decide between This poor man referring to people in general or to one specific person, the psalmist. In any event it is important not to translate poor man in the sense of a man who owns nothing; rather one must select a term or phrase denoting the unfortunate state of the man.

Saved translates the same verb that in 12.1 Revised Standard Version translates “Help.”

The angel of the LORD is referred to as one who encamps around those who fear him. Only here and in 35.5, 6 is The angel of the LORD referred to in Psalms (see in 91.11 the plural “the angels” of the LORD). It is a concept which finds expression elsewhere, referring to God’s heavenly messenger as caring for and protecting his people (see Exo 23.20; Josh 5.13-15 for this same concept; see also Matt 18.10). The angel of the LORD is often rendered “heavenly messenger from the LORD.”

The verb encamps is used in a hostile sense in 27.3; here it means guards, protects, keeps safe. The words who fear him can often be rendered “who worship him” or “who honor him.” Delivers translates the same verb that is used in 6.4.

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 .