This second part of the psalm closes with a renewed plea to Yahweh to intervene and help the psalmist, and a promise to praise him if he answers his prayer.

The expression How long, O LORD, wilt thou look on? will require some shifting in some languages if the meaning of looking without taking an active part in the defense of the psalmist is to be made clear. For example, in some languages it will be necessary to say “How long will you, Lord, just look and not defend me?” or “How long will you do nothing for me but look?” It should be noted that in verse 17a the title “Lord” is used, not, as Revised Standard Version wrongly has it, the name Yahweh.

The meaning of the word translated ravages is disputed; New Jerusalem Bible “onslaughts”; Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible “attacks”; New English Bible “out of their cruel grasp”; Dahood “from their pits”; Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “from these roaring lions.”

In lines b and c of verse 18 (as in 22.20) the Hebrew says “save my nefesh … my only one,” two ways of speaking about his life. Here Bible en français courant expands considerably on “my only one”: “Save my life from these roaring lions, my life, which is all that I have.”

The figure of lions is often used for enemies (7.2; 10.9; 17.12; 22.13, 21). Rescue … my life from the lions may have to be shifted to a simile; for example, “… from my enemies who attack me like lions.”

The psalmist promises to praise Yahweh in the great congregation, that is, in public worship in the Temple (as in 22.22). In the great congregation must sometimes be rendered “where the people meet to praise you.” And in line b the mighty throng is another way of speaking of the people gathered in the Temple for worship.

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 .