Psalms 77:6

77:6 I said, “During the night I will remember the song I once sang;

I will think very carefully.”

I tried to make sense of what was happening. ¹ 

Psalms 86:11

86:11 O Lord, teach me how you want me to live! ² 

Then I will obey your commands. ³ 

Make me wholeheartedly committed to you! ⁴ 

Psalms 101:2

101:2 I will walk in ⁵  the way of integrity.

When will you come to me?

I will conduct my business with integrity in the midst of my palace. ⁶ 

[77:6]  ¹ tn Heb “I will remember my song in the night, with my heart I will reflect. And my spirit searched.” As in v. 4, the words of v. 6a are understood as what the psalmist said earlier. Consequently the words “I said” are supplied in the translation for clarification (see v. 10). The prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) consecutive at the beginning of the final line is taken as sequential to the perfect “I thought” in v. 6.

[86:11]  ² tn Heb “teach me your way.” The Lord’s “way” refers here to the moral principles he expects the psalmist to follow. See Pss 25:4; 27:11.

[86:11]  ³ tn Heb “I will walk in your truth.” The Lord’s commandments are referred to as “truth” here because they are a trustworthy and accurate expression of the divine will. See Ps 25:5.

[86:11]  ⁴ tn Heb “Bind my heart to the fearing of your name.” The verb translated “bind” occurs only here in the Piel stem. It appears twice in the Qal, meaning “be joined” in both cases (Gen 49:6; Isa 14:20). To “fear” God’s name means to have a healthy respect for him which in turn motivates one to obey his commands (see Pss 61:5; 102:15).

[101:2]  ³ tn Heb “take notice of.”

[101:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “I will walk about in the integrity of my heart in the midst of my house.”