In some languages the expression This God will only serve to distinguish a near God from a less-near one. In order to avoid such ambiguity of reference, it will often be necessary to render This God as “The God whom I worship,” or shift to the possessive, “My God.” Some translations (see Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Bible en français courant, New English Bible) disregard the unusual Hebrew construction (literally “The God”) and have simply “The way of God is perfect” or something like it. This may be preferred by the translator.

God’s way is either his own conduct or else the way he sets forth for his people. Here it seems to refer to God’s conduct. For comments on perfect see verse 23. His way is perfect will sometimes require recasting in the form “he does everything just right.”

Proves true translates the verb “to refine” (see comments in 12.6); the idea is that of being completely free of flaw or impurity, and therefore trustworthy, dependable. The promise of the LORD proves true must often be rendered “you can always depend on the LORD’s words” or “you can always believe what the LORD says.”

For a discussion of shield see 3.3; for take refuge in him see comments on 2.12. If the shield or equivalent protective device is unknown, it is often necessary to employ a descriptive phrase; for example, “he is like a covering that protects people,” or simply avoid the analogy and say “he is the place people go to for protection.”

The rhetorical question in verse 31 is a way of making a strong affirmation: “No one else but Yahweh is God; no one except our God is a rock.” For rock see comment in verse 2b. In many instances our God will have to be translated “the God we worship” or “God, whom we worship.”

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 .