Good News Translation reverses the two lines of this verse; “will rescue me” line a translates what appears in line b in Revised Standard Version as he will receive me. Verse 15 is an example of untypical parallelism. The usual pattern is for the metaphor to occur in the second line, thus dramatizing the meaning of the first line. Here, however, the figurative language occurs in the first line. Good News Translation has switched lines, and by doing so has recreated the typical order.

The words of this verse are clear: the psalmist knows that he will not share the fate of those who trust in themselves. God will rescue his nefesh (see 3.2) from the power (literally “the hand”) of Sheol, for he will “take” him from there. The Hebrew verb can mean receive (so Revised Standard Version and others); but in parallel with “rescue, save” of the preceding line (Revised Standard Version ransom, the same verb that is used in verse 7), it seems more likely that here it means “take” (New English Bible; Dahood and Bible en français courant have “snatch”). From the power of Sheol in some languages can be descriptively stated as “from the claws of death.” However, in languages where death is not associated with power or with symbols of power such as hands, claws and the like, it will be necessary to simply say “from death.”

As to the meaning of the psalmist’s assertion, it seems unlikely in this context that it means only that God will save him from untimely death, as in 18.4-6; 30.2-3; were this the meaning, then the ultimate fate of the psalmist (and of those like him) would be no different from that of those who trust in their riches. So it seems that what is meant is that the psalmist expects to be like Enoch and Elijah, who were taken to God without going to Sheol (so Dahood), or else that after he dies (that is, goes to Sheol) God will take him from there into his presence. It seems best to keep as closely as possible to the form of the Hebrew text of this verse, since interpretations of its meaning vary. The translator’s task is to represent in the target language, as naturally and clearly as possible, what the Hebrew text says: “Surely God will redeem my nefesh from the hand of Sheol, for he will take me” (see New Jerusalem Bible).

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 .