In verse 25 the picture could be that of people bowed down in prayer and supplication (so Taylor, Weiser, Dahood); it seems more likely, however, as Good News Translation has interpreted it, that it is a picture of complete humiliation and defeat.

In both lines our soul (nefesh, see 3.2) and our body are ways of speaking of persons. The picturesque our body cleaves to the ground may not be a natural expression in many languages (just as it isn’t in English). New English Bible has “lie prone on the earth”; New Jerusalem Bible “lie prone on the ground”; and Knox has the best rendering of all: “prostrate, we cannot lift ourselves from the ground.”

With a final appeal to God’s steadfast love (see comments on 5.7), the psalmist asks God to take action and save his people. Deliver translates the verb which in 25.22 is translated “redeem.” See comments there. For the sake of in verse 26b means “on account of (your constant love),” that is, “because you love us.” The expression for the sake of thy steadfast love must often be rendered in translation by a verb phrase; for example, “help us because you have always loved us faithfully.”

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 .