The psalmist prays for Yahweh’s leadership, especially needed because of his enemies; the Hebrew word used here occurs also in 27.11; 54.7; 56.2; 59.10.

In order to make the verse flow more smoothly, Good News Translation places the psalmist’s statement about his enemies first, and then the double petition. So Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, “O Lord, because of my enemies, lead me … take me….”

“To do your will” (Good News Translation) translates what is literally in thy righteousness. The Hebrew word tsedaqah stands for the expression of God’s will for his people as found in the Torah, the Law of Moses. It is God’s will that they obey his laws and follow his ways; consequently thy righteousness is synonymous with thy way in line c. If thy righteousness is taken as describing the character of God, then verse 8 can sometimes be rendered “LORD, you who are straight, lead me because I have many enemies.”

Make … straight translates a verb meaning “to be straight, smooth, right”; here it is a metaphor for making it possible for the psalmist easily to follow Yahweh’s guidance, obey Yahweh’s will for him, which is what thy way means. So Bible en français courant translates “smooth out in front of me the way that you call me to follow.” If the metaphor of way needs to be abandoned, the translation can be “make it easy for me to do what you want.”

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 .