Still addressing his accusers, the psalmist reminds them that the godly are Yahweh’s special people, and so are helped and protected by him. In this certainty he knows that Yahweh will answer his prayer.

But know serves to remind the psalmist’s enemies of his certainty and may be rendered, for example, “Don’t forget that” or “You can be sure that.” In some languages an equivalent expression is “Hold this word in your heart.”

The verb translated set apart means literally to treat in a special way, differently (in a good sense). This is the verb that appears in the Masoretic text; but a slightly different verb appears in some Hebrew manuscripts (also reflected in some ancient versions), which means “act wonderfully.” So New Jerusalem Bible has “Yahweh performs wonders”; New American Bible “the LORD does wonders”; Bible en français courant “The Lord has done me a great favor.” Most translations, like Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, follow the Masoretic text; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy translates “the Lord prefers.” Either meaning makes sense, but it seems best here to follow the Masoretic text (which Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers).

The idea of choosing often involves putting aside those which are preferred. Other terms also have the meaning of choosing, but may highlight the idea of selecting the undesirable people in order to dispose of them. For himself may require a rendering which expresses more of a purposive act; for example, “to be his own people” or “to belong to himself.”

The godly translates a Hebrew word which means “loyal, devoted, pious.” The Hebrew singular is probably generic, meaning all who are godly or righteous. But it may refer to the psalmist himself (see Bible en français courant above); it may therefore be rendered “his loyal servant.”

New English Bible emends the text to get “Know that the LORD has shown me his marvelous love”; in the same way Weiser, “But know that the LORD did wondrously show his mercy to me.” The Masoretic text (godly or “righteous”) makes sense, however, and should be followed.

The godly or “righteous” is expressed differently in many languages. In some it is related to the quality of “straightness,” in others to “truth” and to “loyalty” or “obligation.” In other languages it is expressed as “right” versus “left,” where “right” indicates everything that is masculine, strong, true, and good, as contrasted with “left,” which is associated with the opposites of “right,” including female qualities. Some languages prefer to express righteous by figurative expressions; for example, “People who have white hearts” or “people with straight livers.”

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 .