There are various ways of understanding the exact force and meaning of the initial plea in verse 4: Good News Translation “Bring us back” (so Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible); Restore us again (An American Translation, Revised Standard Version, Bible en français courant, New International Version, New American Bible, Weiser); “Save us now also” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy); “Turn back to us” (New English Bible). The usual interpretation, represented by the majority, is that the people are asking God once again to intervene and save them (here the same verb is used as in verse 1a). For God of our salvation see comments at 18.46; 79.9. Revised Standard Version Restore us again and Good News Translation “Bring us back” do not indicate the nature of this process, which in many languages will have to be more explicit than either of these versions. If this restoration is to Israel’s pre-exilic condition, the translator may say, for instance, “make us strong (or, prosperous) the way we once were.”

For the sentiment expressed in verses 4b, 5, see similar language in 74.1; 79.5. The verb in verse 4b is somewhat unusual; the Masoretic text is a form of the verb “to break, invalidate,” thus “break your anger.” It appears that Revised Standard Version has followed the Septuagint (so Anderson) and translates a causative verb which means “get rid of, remove” (see “depart,” 6.8). New English Bible has “cancel,” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “renounce,” and New Jerusalem Bible “revoke” for the Masoretic text. The Masoretic text does make sense and should be followed.

The rhetorical questions in verse 5 are a familiar way of protesting God’s seemingly perpetual anger with his people and asking him to relent. The two questions are parallel and synonymous. To all generations in line b means the same as for ever in line a. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has reduced the two rhetorical questions to one: “Can it be that you will prolong forever your anger against us?” In some languages it may be more natural to express the two rhetorical questions as negative commands in which the two lines may, if necessary, be reduced to one; for example, “Don’t be angry with us for ever.”

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 .