In verse 18 Revised Standard Version gives the literal form of the Hebrew, Our heart … our steps, which Good News Translation has represented by “disloyal to you … disobeyed your commands.”

In verse 19 the place of jackals and deep darkness are figures of desolation and death. Broken translates a verb meaning “to crush” (see the passive form in 38.8), and the whole line may be taken to mean “you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals” (New International Version), that is, a wild, uninhabited place. Or else Good News Translation (and Bible en français courant) may be followed.

In the place of the Masoretic text jackals (tannim), some Hebrew manuscripts have tannin “dragon,” a reference to the mythological monster of the primeval chaos (see 74.13); so New Jerusalem Bible “though You cast us, crushed, to where the sea monster is”; another possible version is “You have crushed us as the Dragon was crushed”; New English Bible has “sea-serpent”; New American Bible and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy follow the Septuagint “a place of misery.”18-19 Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers the Masoretic text, “jackals” (“C” decision). Most translators will find it more intelligible to speak of jackals or “wild animals” than of dragons. In some languages “river snake” or “sea snake” may be used to translate “dragon,” but more often such terms refer to a literal snake. In the Orient the dragon is associated with good fortune. It is sometimes possible to say “a terrible serpent” or “a frightening reptile.” Often a note is required if a translation for “dragon” is used. The whole line is a vivid picture of death; the word translated deep darkness appears also in 23.4; so New English Bible here “the darkness of death.”

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 .