These two verses are even more explicit: it is God who has placed the psalmist in the depths of the Pit, that is, Sheol, a dark and deep abyss (see similar language in 69.2, 15). Bible en français courant translates verse 6b “in the deep darkness of death.” In many languages Revised Standard Version Pit will not signify death or near death. Good News Translation‘s “tomb” suggests in English a structure for burial of the dead, either in the ground or particularly above the ground. In languages in which burial is not in the ground, some adaptation is required; for example, “You have thrown me into the place of dead bodies, into the darkest and deepest hole.”

The psalmist feels on himself the full weight of God’s wrath, which crushes him as though it were giant waves (see 42.7; Jonah 2.2-3 for similar language). Good News Translation has related “waves” to “Your anger” and made the two halves of verse 7 parallel. Bible en français courant, in a similar way, says “your anger has crushed me in waves that overwhelm me.” In some languages the idea of verse 7 may be expressed as a simile; for example, “Your anger has been like sea waves crushing me” or “You have been angry at me like sea waves knocking me down.” In languages in which “waves” are meaningless, the translator may be able to accomplish the same poetic effect with wind or some other natural force.

For Selah see 3.2.

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 .