Now the psalmist affirms his faith in God, confessing his trust in him (literally “I wait for you”; see 31.24 and comments), confident that God will answer his prayers. In verse 15b the title “Lord” is used, not the divine name Yahweh. It should be noticed that in Hebrew the verb answer has no object (see Revised Standard Version); so instead of “answer me” (Good News Translation) the translation can be “answer my enemies” (see Biblia Dios Habla Hoy).

In verse 16 the Hebrew text is “For I say (or, pray), ‘Don’t let….’ ” Good News Translation has given the psalmist’s request, without using the device of his quoting himself. For the prayer, see similar requests in 13.4; 35.19, 25. Rejoice and boast depict the glee of the psalmist’s enemies over his suffering and ruin. When my foot slips: a figure for misfortune or ruin (see 13.4, where the same verb is translated “shaken”). When my foot slips or Good News Translation “downfall” can be rendered in some languages as “when I fail,” or “when I stumble and fall,” or “when I take a wrong step.”

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 .