This strophe (letter daleth, verses 25-32) includes lament and petition. The Good News Translation heading may need to be adjusted for translation; for example, “The psalmist decides to obey the LORD’s Law.”
In verses 25 and 28 the psalmist refers again to his situation (see verses 21-23), which he describes poetically, My soul cleaves to the dust (verse 25a, Revised Standard Version). This is a way of saying that he is close to death (New American Bible “I lie prostrate in the dust”); see similar language in 44.25. So he prays revive me, that is, restore me to health and prosperity. According to thy word probably means, as Good News Translation has it, “as you have promised” (also New Jerusalem Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Bible en français courant); it is doubtful that word here refers specifically to a commandment in the Law. My soul cleaves to the dust has been restructured by Good News Translation as “I lie defeated….” The problem with the Good News Translation model is the use of the passive, and it is difficult to know who defeated him–a question which is not at all implied in the Hebrew. In many languages “lying in the dust” will be unclear. Therefore it will usually be better to say something similar to Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, “I am about to die.”
In verse 26a told of my ways has “you” as the implied indirect object, that is, Yahweh. The Hebrew word for ways means way of life, conduct, behavior (see verses 1a, 5a). Here, then, the psalmist says he told God everything he had done (see New English Bible); Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “I have revealed to you my conduct,” Bible en français courant “I have recounted my life to you.” This does not seem to be only a confession of sins, as Good News Translation “I confessed all I have done” could be understood. It seems better to use a more neutral verb, “I told, narrated, related, recited.” Yahweh’s answer, then, may be encouragement, or reprimand, or instruction.
The request in verse 26b is the same as in verse 12b.
The request for understanding in verse 27a is like the ones in verses 12b, 18a. It is somewhat unusual for the phrase the way of thy precepts to be the object of Make me understand, but here this phrase seems to mean “the meaning (or, purpose) of your laws” or possibly “the way of life your precepts demand”; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has simply “your laws”; Bible en français courant has “the meaning of your requirements”; New International Version “the teaching of your precepts.”
For meditate in verse 27b, see verse 15b. Revised Standard Version wondrous works (also New American Bible) may be what the psalmist means: “the wonderful things you have done” (see New Jerusalem Bible). In the context of the psalm, however, Good News Translation “your wonderful teachings” seems preferable. No other translation consulted, however, expresses this meaning.
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 .