In verse 44 Good News Translation has reversed the order of the lines for greater ease of understanding. Yahweh heard the people’s prayers for help and took pity on them. He regarded their distress may be rendered “he took notice of their suffering.”

For verse 45a see Leviticus 26.40-42. For their sake means “because of them,” that is, because they were his people; it can be translated “in order to help them.” For the thought expressed in verse 45b, see Jonah 3.9-10. The verb translated relented may mean “have pity” (see 90.13b) or “regret, repent” (see its use in Gen 6.6, “was sorry”; see also “change his mind” in Psa 110.4). Here “changed his mind” may be the better translation.

In verse 46a “their oppressors” translates those who held them captive (see the verb shabah also in 68.18b); foreign domination is likened to captivity. Yahweh made the foreign masters take pity on the Israelites (see 1 Kgs 8.50).

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 .