Yet: turning once more from his distress, the psalmist now bases his hopeful plea for help (verses 9-11) on his own past experience of the LORD’s faithful care (verses 9-10).

With expressive figures the psalmist speaks of Yahweh’s care of him ever since he was born. In verse 9a the verb “draw out” (took … from) is used only here in the Old Testament; the psalmist does not actually mean that the LORD pulled him out of the womb, but, as Good News Translation expresses it, he brought him safely through birth. Took me from the womb may normally be kept closer to the pictorial language of the Hebrew than Good News Translation has chosen; for example, “you are the one who brought me out of my mother’s womb.” If the figurative language of the Hebrew is inappropriate, the translator can follow the model of Good News Translation. If the figurative language is retained in verse 9a, then it will be appropriate to do so in verse 9b.

My mother’s breasts in line b is a way of referring to the time when he was a baby, while he was still being nursed. Some translations take the two lines as descriptive of what happens at the birth of a child. So New English Bible “But thou art he who drew me from the womb, who laid me at my mother’s breast” (see also Bible en français courant). This may be used if the translator is certain the readers will not understand that in a literal fashion God did the work of a midwife.

In verse 10a the language, as Dahood points out, implies that the LORD had adopted him: “I was placed in your custody.” New Jerusalem Bible has “I became Your charge at birth.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, somewhat differently, “Even before I was born I was entrusted to your care.” Revised Standard Version Upon thee was I cast is not a natural English expression.

In verse 10b the language is literally “from the womb of my mother my God (are) you.” This does not mean that as a newborn baby the psalmist had acknowledged Yahweh as his God, but that from his birth God had cared for, protected, him. New Jerusalem Bible has “from the womb I have belonged to you.” Hast been my God must often be recast, since God may not be thought of as being possessed; for example, “you have been the God who watches over me” or “… the God who takes care of me.”

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 .