In this verse the psalmist switches from the third person (The LORD is) to the second person of direct address (thou art with me). Translations may follow the Hebrew, as Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation have done; or else, like Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, they may cast all the psalm in the second person, beginning with verse 1, “You, LORD, are my shepherd….”
The valley of the shadow of death: the Hebrew word translated valley is translated in the Septuagint by “the midst” (so Anchor Bible, “in the midst of total darkness”). And the word traditionally translated the shadow of death elsewhere means simply darkness (see 44.19; 107.10; Job 3.5; 10.22; 12.22; 16.16; Isa 9.2). As it appears here in the Masoretic text, however, the word may be taken as a compound, meaning “darkness of death” (so the Septuagint). Most modern translations avoid the word “death”: Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “dark valley”; Weiser “the valley of deep darkness”; Bible en français courant “the dark valley”; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “the darkest of all valleys.” “A dark ravine” (with footnote) is another suggestion. But New English Bible has “a valley dark as death,” New Jerusalem Bible “a ravine as dark as death,” and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “a ravine of shadow and death.” The word itself does not necessarily mean death; but by definition a dark ravine is a dangerous place. For a discussion of this and other matters in this psalm, see John Eaton, The Bible Translator 16:171-176.
If the translator follows the exegetical suggestion “darkness of death,” it will sometimes be necessary to say, for example, “if I go through the darkness that is like death” or “if I go through darkness where there is no life.”
The word translated evil means here danger, harm, injury.
The rod was a club used to drive away wild animals; the staff was a long stick used for support in walking. Kirkpatrick takes the two words to be a poetic description of the shepherd’s crook, using two names for the one instrument. So Bible en français courant “your shepherd’s rod, that is what reassures me.” Most translations, however, have two different words. Good News Translation has used the traditional “rod and staff”; but since there will be many readers who will not know what these are, Good News Translation qualifies them with “Your shepherd’s rod and staff.”
They comfort me: the verb “to comfort” means here to provide assurance, security, safety. New American Bible has “give me courage”; Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant “reassure me”; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “fill me with confidence.”
The expression thy rod and thy staff they comfort me may require in some languages more adjustments than have been made in Good News Translation. In some areas there is nothing known as a special instrument for herding animals. In some cases it will be necessary to indicate that these instruments are not simply possessed but are carried by the shepherd; for example, “the rod and staff which you carry.” In some areas these will simply be known as “the club and the cane” or “the stick.” In some languages it may be better to express the meaning in nonfigurative language: “You protect me and keep me safe,” “You protect me from all harm and danger.”
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 .