3 Here the psalmist refers back to the very recent past, when he began to pray for divine help.
4 Heb “my hand [at] night was extended and was not growing numb.” The verb נָגַר (nagar), which can mean “flow” in certain contexts, here has the nuance “be extended.” The imperfect form (תָפוּג, tafug, “to be numb”) is used here to describe continuous action in the past.
5 Or “my soul.” The Hebrew term נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) with a pronominal suffix is often equivalent to a pronoun, especially in poetry (see 660 נֶפֶשׁ 4.a).
6 Heb “I will remember God and I will groan, I will reflect and my spirit will grow faint.” The first three verbs are cohortatives, the last a perfect with vav (ו) consecutive. The psalmist’s statement in v. 4 could be understood as concurrent with v. 1, or, more likely, as a quotation of what he had said earlier as he prayed to God (see v. 2). The words “I said” are supplied in the translation at the beginning of the verse to reflect this interpretation (see v. 10).
7 Heb “you held fast the guards of my eyes.” The “guards of the eyes” apparently refers to his eyelids. The psalmist seems to be saying that God would not bring him relief, which would have allowed him to shut his eyes and get some sleep (see v. 2).
8 The imperfect is used in the second clause to emphasize that this was an ongoing condition in the past.
9 Heb “the years of antiquity.”
10 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.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;

in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;

my soul refuses to be comforted.

When I remember God, I moan;

when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah

You hold my eyelids open;

I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

I consider the days of old,

the years long ago.

I said, “Let me remember my song in the night;

let me meditate in my heart.”

Then my spirit made a diligent search:

NIVNew International Version (2011)

When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;

at night I stretched out untiring hands,

and I would not be comforted.

I remembered you, God, and I groaned;

I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.

You kept my eyes from closing;

I was too troubled to speak.

I thought about the former days,

the years of long ago;

I remembered my songs in the night.

My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

CSBChristian Standard Bible

I sought the Lord in my day of trouble.

My hands were continually lifted up

all night long;

I refused to be comforted.

I think of God; I groan;

I meditate; my spirit becomes weak.

Selah

You have kept me from closing my eyes;

I am troubled and cannot speak.

I consider days of old,

years long past.

At night I remember my music;

I meditate in my heart, and my spirit ponders.

NLTNew Living Translation

When I was in deep trouble,

I searched for the Lord.

All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven,

but my soul was not comforted.

I think of God, and I moan,

overwhelmed with longing for his help.

Interlude

You don’t let me sleep.

I am too distressed even to pray!

I think of the good old days,

long since ended,

when my nights were filled with joyful songs.

I search my soul and ponder the difference now.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

In the day I have trouble, I seek the Lord.

At night my hand stretches out continually;

my soul refuses to be comforted.

I remember God and I groan loudly;

I meditate and my spirit grows faint. Selah

You hold open my eyelids.

I am troubled and cannot speak.

I think about the days from long ago,

the years of ancient times.

I remember my song in the night.

With my heart I meditate,

and my spirit searches to understand.

KJV 1900King James Version

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord:

My sore ran in the night, and ceased not:

My soul refused to be comforted.

I remembered God, and was troubled:

I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

Thou holdest mine eyes waking:

I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

I have considered the days of old,

The years of ancient times.

I call to remembrance my song in the night:

I commune with mine own heart:

And my spirit made diligent search.

Public Domain