The two lines of verse 1 are semantically and syntactically parallel. There is no dynamic movement such as intensification, focusing, dramatization, or specification in line b. Clearly the words translated rebuke and chasten do not have identical meanings, but their differences have not been brought into play. Because of this Good News Translation has shortened and combined the two lines into one. However, since the dominant pattern everywhere in the psalms is for parallel lines, translators should not reduce the two to one unless, of course, parallel lines and poetic form are not being used.

Verse 1 is the same as 6.1, except that in the first line a different word for anger is used. Although Good News Translation has combined the two synonymous lines into one, most translations maintain the two lines, using the verb “rebuke, reprimand” in the first line, and “chastise, punish” in the second line. This may be preferable. If the translator follows the model of Good News Translation and reduces the two parallel lines to one line, he may still have to make some adjustments to relate “punish” to “anger.” For example, “Although you are angry LORD, don’t punish me.” Or it may be possible to imitate Traduction œcuménique de la Bible: “LORD, punish me without fury; chasten me without anger.”

The psalmist considers his illness to be the result of Yahweh’s anger; Yahweh has punished him by shooting him with his arrows (literally thy arrows have sunk into me). The same figure of “arrows” is used in 7.13; see also Job 6.4. And for the figure thy hand has come down on me, the same verb is used, which is rather strange. For the use of “hand” to mean punishment, see 32.4. New Jerusalem Bible translates the line “Your blows have fallen upon me.” Of the translations consulted Traduction œcuménique de la Bible is the only one that uses the same verb for both lines: “has descended (or, fallen) … have descended.” It may be possible in many languages to follow a bit more closely the form of the Hebrew than Good News Translation has done; for example, “Your arrows have gone into me.” In line b it will often be possible to keep the image of the hand; for example, “your hand has knocked me down.”

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 .