In verse 18 the first three words of line a begin with the letter yod.

Knows the days of means cares for, is concerned with; Bible en français courant “takes an interest in.” For a similar use of the verb “know,” see 1.6a. New Jerusalem Bible has “The LORD is concerned for the needs of the blameless,” and New Jerusalem Bible “The lives of the just are in Yahweh’s care.”

The word for blameless is used also in 18.23.

The Hebrew “inheritance” (verse 18b), as in 16.6, refers to the land of Israel; the promise is that it will belong to God’s people for all time.

The promise in verse 19 is that in bad times, in times of drought and famine, those who obey the LORD will not be put to shame, that is, suffer the humiliation of being in need; instead they will have more than enough.

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 .