In this first strophe (verses 4-9) people who have wandered in desert wastes are singled out as the object of Yahweh’s care. It is not certain whether this actually refers to lost travelers in general, or is intended to refer to the exodus from Egypt or to the return of the Israelites from exile. A city to dwell in is the way most translations render the Hebrew phrase “a city of dwelling” in verse 4b; but it may mean “an inhabited city” (New American Bible; similarly Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant, Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible; New Jerusalem Bible “settled place”). This may better fit the context, the meaning being that the lost travelers found no city where they could get help (so Anderson).
In verse 5 Good News Translation “had given up all hope” (see also Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch) translates “their nefesh fainted in them” (see the verb “to faint” in 77.3b); the words can mean “they were about to die” (see Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Dahood, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New International Version, New American Bible). Bible en français courant has “they were about to lose courage”; perhaps the best translation is “they became discouraged” or “they were plunged into despair.”
The language of verse 6 is repeated in verses 13, 19, and 28; in verses 13 and 19 the verb translated “called” is different but has the same meaning; and the verb “to save” in verses 13 and 19 is a different verb from the one used in verse 6, and in verse 28 still another verb is used; all three are closely synonymous. Each of these four verses serves as a transition from the first part of the stanza (which describes the plight of the people) and the second part (which tells how Yahweh saved them). The verb cried (for help) in line a appears also in 34.17; 77.1; and delivered is used in 7.1.
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 .