Verse 16a is similar to 25.16a. In this verse the psalmist refers to himself as thy servant (as in verses 2, 4) and the son of thy handmaid (as in 116.16). Revised Standard Version handmaid is an archaic term for “maidservant” or “servant girl.” The second phrase may be nothing more than the equivalent of the first; so Biblia Dios Habla Hoy shortens and combines the two into one, “this servant of yours” (see Anderson, McCullough). Others take the expression to mean that, just as the child of a slave was a slave for life (see Exo 21.4), so the psalmist considered himself to be a permanent slave of God. So Bible en français courant “I am your servant … I belong to you.” Good News Translation has taken the expression to be a reference to the devoutness of the psalmist’s mother as an additional reason for God to save him; no other translation consulted, however, gives this meaning.

The psalmist asks for a clear indication, a proof, of God’s goodness, of God’s approval (a sign of thy favor), either some favorable sign or else the deliverance itself from his difficulties. Such a demonstration of the LORD’s goodness would put to shame the psalmist’s enemies, for they would see that by his intervention God had proven the psalmist’s claims to be true. And the psalmist himself would have received God’s comfort and help. In some languages the expression Show me a sign or “proof” must be rendered as “do something so that I will know…,” or specifically, “help me so that…” or “save me so that….” For comforted see comments on 23.4; 71.21.

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 .