The psalmist speaks of God as the fountain of life, that is, “the source of all life”; and light is a figure for life (see 18.28; 27.1). The idea in line b is that, because God is life and the source of it, human beings are able to have life, a “full and satisfying life” (Anderson). Dahood believes the reference is to eternal life. The expression with thee is the fountain of life must be recast in numerous languages. In some it will be necessary to say, for example, “you are the one who creates everything that lives” or “you are the one who gives life to all things.” Following the interpretation of light representing life, it is possible to translate line b as, for example, “it is your light which illumines our life” (see Bible en français courant). Another suggestion is that followed by Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, “in your light we are able to see the light.”

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 .