The psalmist concludes with a prayer of confidence in the LORD’s power to protect him from all attacks: “As soon as I lie down, I go to sleep in peace (or, I fall asleep peacefully),” that is, with no fear of possible dangers during the night. Or peace may mean safety, security; so New Jerusalem Bible “Safe and sound I lie down….”

Alone may refer to the psalmist himself, as the Septuagint translates: “you have made me dwell alone….” The idea then is that God keeps him far from his enemies, and they cannot hurt him (so Delitzsch, Briggs, Kirkpatrick). New Jerusalem Bible translates “for You alone, O LORD, keep me secure” but provides an alternative in the footnote: “for You, O LORD, keep me alone and secure.” A translator should feel free to follow either interpretation of the Hebrew text; the meaning represented by Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation seems preferable.

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 .