The conjunction For has a double function. It indicates both that the verse is a quotation (Psa 24.1) and that the quotation is intended to give a reason for the statement in verse 25. Good News Bible is therefore right to add “as the scripture says,” though these words are not in the text. In languages that cannot talk about Scriptures “saying” or “speaking,” one may render this as “It is written in the Scriptures that….” In any case For should not be included in the quotation, which is what Revised English Bible does.

The Lord in the psalm undoubtedly means God, but it is possible that, here as elsewhere, Paul understood the psalm to refer to Christ. In any case, in the quotation the Lord’s is emphasized; Bible en français courant translates “It is to the Lord that the earth … belongs.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .