This psalm opens with an A-B-A type structure, that is, the word ʾelohim, God, is preceded and followed by the verb Be merciful. The purpose of this repetition is to call attention to the psalmist’s fears and need of God’s protection. Translators should not merely copy this form, but seek to accomplish the psalmist’s purpose within the stylistic usage of the receptor language.

For Be merciful see comments on 4.1c (“be gracious”); a prayer for God’s compassion, God’s pity on the psalmist.

The psalmist prays to God for help, because it is God who protects him. The expression Be merciful to me in some languages is rendered “be kind to me.” It may often be translated by the use of idiomatic phrases such as “have a white heart for me,” “let your heart be open for me,” or “accept me with your heart.”

In thee my soul takes refuge (Good News Translation “I come to you for safety”) translates “in you my nefesh (see 3.2) finds protection” (see comments on “take refuge” in 2.12).

For the figure the shadow of thy wings, see 17.8 and comments, and note that take refuge is repeated from the previous line. The figurative expression in the shadow of thy wings in some languages will require some adaptation. It is sometimes possible to adopt a comparison or simile so that the original form may be preserved; for example, “like a bird I find protection in the shadow of your wings” or “you protect me like a bird protects its young in the shadow of its wings.” If the figure of speech must be sacrificed for clarity of meaning, one can say, for example, “close to you I am protected.” If shadow in some languages carries negative connotations, other possible expressions are “under your wings,” “your wings shade me,” or “your wings cover me.”

The storms of destruction translates the plural of the word “destruction”; for a similar figure for troubles, see 55.8.

For Most High in verse 2a, see comments on 7.17. The relative clause who fulfils his purpose for me translates a verb which is taken to mean “accomplish”; Dahood and Anderson take it to mean “avenge” here; Briggs, taking his lead from the Septuagint, prefers the sense “deal bountifully with”; so New Jerusalem Bible “who has done everything for me”; New Jerusalem Bible “who is good to me” (similarly Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). It is difficult to understand precisely what Revised Standard Version who fulfils his purpose for me means (also New International Version and New English Bible); presumably it means that God provides all that is needed for the psalmist to be what God wants him to be.

Some translations, like Traduction œcuménique de la Bible and New Jerusalem Bible, take verse 3 as a request: “May he, from heaven, send me salvation!” Revised Standard Version He will send from heaven is puzzling (also New English Bible and New International Version), since the verb “to send” normally takes a direct object. It is better, like Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, to join the two verb phrases in the line, “send me salvation.”

Put to shame in verse 3b translates a verb which occurs only here in the Old Testament and is taken to mean “confuse” (K-B); so New English Bible “frustrate.” Some, however, prefer the meaning “to reproach, criticize”; so New International Version “rebuking,” also possible “taunt,” and Revised Standard Version put to shame. But the Masoretic text is none too clear, and those who trample upon me can be taken as the subject, not the object, of the verb; so New Jerusalem Bible “my persecutor reviles”; Weiser “he who lies in wait for me has slandered (me).” On the whole it seems better to take it as Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation have.

Who trample (Good News Translation “oppressors”) translates a participle of the same verb used in 56.1, 2 (Good News Translation “attack”). See comments there.

For Selah see 3.2.

The third line of verse 3 is “he will send his chesed (see 5.7) and his ʾemeth (see 15.2),” which are like heavenly messengers sent to protect the psalmist (Briggs). The expression God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness in some languages can be rendered, for example, “God will always love me, and he will do this with one heart.”

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 .