These two lines are not parallel; the first one is a declaration, the second a command for the people to tell about Yahweh’s greatness. Revised English Bible joins the two lines: “When I proclaim the name of the LORD, you will respond….” This is a possibility.

Proclaim the name of the LORD: this does not mean only that he will utter it, or tell people what the name is, but he will “praise” it (Good News Translation), “exalt” it; the name usually stands for the person. Mayes comments that the expression means “to make open declaration of his character as shown in his actions with his people and with individuals also.” One possible translation is “I will tell how great the LORD is.”

Ascribe greatness: the Hebrew has “Give greatness,” as though greatness were an object that can be given to God. This can be handled in different ways. For example, New International Version has “Oh, praise the greatness,” New Jerusalem Bible “Oh, tell the greatness,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “Give glory to our God.” It means to recognize and confess the greatness of God. We may also express this as “All you people should tell Yahweh how great he is,” or “All you people should say, ‘Yahweh is wonderful!’ ”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .