Good News Translation takes verses 23-24 as the content of the psalmist’s praise, and so places them within quotation marks (see also Bible en français courant). New Jerusalem Bible does the same but restricts the direct quote to verse 23.

The people are called You who fear the LORD (that is, who worship, serve, obey him), and in Hebrew “seed of Jacob” and “seed of Israel” for sons of Jacob … of Israel, synonymous phrases meaning Israelites in general (for “seed” meaning descendants, see comments at 18.50).

Fear the LORD should not be translated by a term which merely implies fright. More significant than the reaction of fright is that of awesome respect. In some languages it will be necessary to combine both reverence and worship or obedience; for example, “You who respect and worship the LORD.”

In verse 23 there are three parallel verbs: praise, glorify, and stand in awe, literally “be afraid of” (see 33.8, where it is parallel to another verb meaning “to fear”).

Glorify him in the sense of showing honor to God may be expressed in terms of the way one uses words; for example, “say that God is great” or “speak well of God.” It is sometimes possible to render the idea of honor in terms of attitude; for example, “show great respect for him” or “have good thoughts about him.” Finally, one may refer to the position of the body; for example, “bow down before him” or “kneel in front of him.”

Sons of Jacob in Good News Translation is “descendants of Jacob.” In some languages descendants are spoken of as “ones who came down from Jacob” or “those who followed grandfather Jacob.” And Revised Standard Version sons of Israel is represented in Good News Translation by “people of Israel.”

Revised Standard Version takes verse 24 as referring to Yahweh’s past actions, while Good News Translation, by use of the present tense of the verbs, represents the continuous or repeated actions of Yahweh in response to people’s needs.

Revised Standard Version represents the Hebrew form, with the two verbs followed by the one compound object, the affliction of the afflicted. Good News Translation has realigned the various semantic elements, using two verbs and two direct objects, which makes for a more natural and clear statement in English (so New English Bible).

For hid his face see discussion of 13.1; it means disregard, not notice, not answer. And heard means to respond to cries for help and to act. For English style it is better, with Good News Translation, to make the object plural, “them,” not singular him of Revised Standard Version.

In line a, for the afflicted see comment at 9.12. Instead of the noun the affliction (as Revised Standard Version translates) Dahood derives the word from a verb meaning “to sing,” and translates “the song of the afflicted,” a proposal that Anderson endorses. New Jerusalem Bible, somewhat differently, has “the plea of the lowly.”

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 .