Good News Translation, like New Jerusalem Bible and Bible en français courant, takes this verse to be a request; others (Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, New American Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy) take it as a statement. Either is possible and the translator should feel free to choose.

In verse 8 what little parallelism exists depends entirely upon the pair By day in line a and at night in line b. Because of the logical nature of the day–night parallel, the two lines are felt to be balanced. There is a sense of continuity and completion in the use of this pair of words, equivalent to saying “all the time.” In translation the poetic order of day and night may have to be reversed in some languages to obtain the equivalent poetic effect. The Good News Translation rendering has moved “day” and “night” to the end of the lines and thereby shifted the focus to the verbs.

In line a the expression commands his steadfast love means “orders his steadfast love to go” (to the psalmist). New American Bible has “bestows.” As a statement this says “by day the LORD shows his constant love for me” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “By day the Lord sends me his love”); as a request, see Good News Translation. For steadfast love see comments on 5.7.

As a consequence of Yahweh’s constant love, the psalmist has a song at night, which is in effect a prayer offered to God. His song is with me means “I sing a song to him” (see New Jerusalem Bible) or “I have a song I (can) sing to him.”

The God of my life in line c means “the God who rules my (or, gives me) life.” The expression God of my life will often require making explicit the relation between God and life; for example, “the God who gives me life” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Bible en français courant) or “the God who causes me to live.”

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 .