The psalmist reflects on how he had felt at that time in the past, and now regrets his past attitude. At that time, however, he was bitter and hurt (verse 21). The Hebrew text for soul is “heart” and for heart is “kidneys” (as in 26.2), which represent “thoughts” and “feelings” (Good News Translation). Soul … embittered is rendered, as in Hebrew, in many idiomatic ways. In some languages one refers to the “sour throat,” in others to a “blackened liver” or a “rotten stomach.” “Were hurt” (Good News Translation) in line b translates a verb that means “be pierced, run through”; literally “my kidneys were pierced,” which New Jerusalem Bible translates “my feelings were numbed,” New Jerusalem Bible “My heart grew embittered,” and New English Bible “I felt the pangs of envy.” Bible en français courant has “I was shocked to the very depths of my being.” One may also say “my innermost made me ill” or “I had deep pain in my heart.”

In verse 22a the psalmist describes himself as having been stupid and ignorant; Bible en français courant has “I was stupid, I understood nothing.” The Hebrew word for stupid reflects an animal-like stupidity, “brutishness,” and this is reflected in beast in the next line. In line b a beast (singular) translates the text of one Hebrew manuscript; the Masoretic text has the plural, “animals, beasts,” which New Jerusalem Bible translates “I was brutish toward You.” It should be noticed that Good News Translation has restructured the two lines, joining stupid and beast on one line. This verse contains the psalmist’s self-understanding, and the translator must decide whether verse 22b describes God’s attitude toward him (New English Bible “I was a mere beast in thy sight, O God”) or the psalmist’s own behavior toward God, “I behaved like an animal toward you.” The latter seems preferable. In some languages the generic “animal” may not serve as a comparison for stupidity, since only a specific animal may be so considered. In the absence of such a comparison, it will be better to say “very stupid.”

The turning point comes in verse 23, as the psalmist confesses his reliance on God. The thought is similar to that in 63.8. In spite of the psalmist’s spiritual stupidity, he was still close to God and was held by him. In the past he was not conscious of this; it is only now that he realizes that he had never been far from God, that God had never let go of him. It is significant that in Hebrew, as well as many other languages, God holds the psalmist’s right hand. In languages where the right hand is a symbol of honor or strength, it will be best to use the expression as in Revised Standard Version, unless it will be assumed automatically to be the right hand, even if not specifically stated.

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 .