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.

In other versions

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 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 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 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 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 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.

Public Domain