In verse 9a the usual translation all my longing assumes that it refers to the psalmist’s wish to be healed; elsewhere Revised Standard Version has “desire” (see 10.3 and comments); so the word is translated “desires” by Biblia Dios Habla Hoy (see Bible en français courant), “entreaties” by New Jerusalem Bible; Dahood and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible have “sighing”; New English Bible (following G. R. Driver) has “lament.” The translator may have to be specific about what the psalmist desires or longs for: “O Lord, you know that I wish to be healed….” In line b my sighing represents suffering and distress (see the same Hebrew word in 6.6a “moaning”; 31.10b “sighing”; 102.5 “groaning”); so Good News Translation “groans.” It does not represent a wish or desire.

The opening words of verse 10 (My heart throbs) are taken as a physical symptom by most translations; New Jerusalem Bible, however, has “my mind is reeling,” which is possible, though not so appropriate here.

Bright eyes (verse 10b) were taken to be a sign of good health (see 13.3 and comments). The light of my eyes … has gone cannot be rendered literally in many languages without meaning that the person has become blind. Often one must say, for example, “my eyes no longer shine” or “my eyes are no longer clear as they were.”

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 .