Shield is a common metaphor for protection, often used of God (see 7.10; 18.2). The phrase about me completes the idea of protection. The large shield was big enough to protect the whole body from the enemy’s sword or arrows. The translation here can be “you are my protecting shield,” “you are a shield to protect me.” If the metaphor does not make sense, a simile may be used: “you are like a shield that protects me,” “you protect me like a shield.” In languages which lack a term for shield or any other protective device used in battle, the translator may employ a descriptive phrase; for example, “the thing that protects.” On the other hand a nonfigurative expression may be better; for example, “You, LORD, are the one who protects me from danger.”
It is more common in parallel lines for the first line to be nonfigurative and the second to contain the figure. Verse 3 is an exception with figures in both lines. If one takes both lines as a unit, the meaning may be expressed “LORD, you are not only a shield for me, but you also make me victorious and give me courage” or “LORD, you are like a shield, you even give me the victory and renew my strength.”
Yahweh is also called my glory. The Hebrew word for glory has a variety of meanings, one of which is “honor, reputation,” which fits well in this context. Since the king’s honor was dependent upon his being victorious over his enemies, it is possible that here this specific meaning is intended; so Good News Translation “you give me victory.” New International Version has “you bestow glory on me.” Simply to translate “my glory,” as New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible do, carries no meaning in English. Briggs proposes “the one in whom I glory”; Moffatt “thou whom I do glorify”; Knox “my champion.” Toombs takes it to mean the psalmist’s “worth as a man,” for which he is indebted to the LORD. It is more likely, however, that the meaning is “victory” (Good News Translation) or “honor,” which can be expressed by “you give me great honor.”
The lifter of my head: “you hold my head high.” This phrase is a metaphor for restoring confidence, courage, and hope to one who is discouraged. Delitzsch comments: “He comforts and helps him.” Briggs takes it to mean victory, while Kirkpatrick thinks it means that the LORD saves him and restores him to his throne. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy translates “You are the one who encourages me.” Bible en français courant says “you supply me with dignity and pride.” Another possibility is “you maintain my honor and hold my head high.”
The translator is encouraged always to use meaningful figures of speech, provided they translate correctly the meaning of the text. Sometimes metaphors which are newly made or have become obsolete are of little communicative value and may give the reader an entirely wrong understanding. Many languages use metaphors to express “to comfort” or “to encourage”; for example, “to make the heart cool” or “to strengthen the insides.” In such cases it will be necessary to add a causative element; for example, “You cause my insides to rest” or “You make my heart sit coolly.”
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 .