God’s punishment is motivated by his faithfulness, that is, he keeps his promise, as expressed in his covenant with his people, to reward the righteous and punish the wicked. So the psalmist does not complain: I know … that thy judgments are right. Good News Translation‘s “your judgments are righteous” will have to be shifted in some languages to say, for example, “I know that you judge things in the right way.”

In verses 76-77 the psalmist appeals to Yahweh to show him steadfast love and mercy, because of Yahweh’s promise and the psalmist’s devotion to Yahweh’s law. For to comfort me in verse 76a, see verse 52b; and for verse 76b see similar language in verses 41b, 58b.

For verse 77a see similar request in verse 41a; for that I may live see verse 17b; and for verse 77b see verse 70b.

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 .