In some languages both LORD and king will have to be possessed; for example, “Our LORD is our King.” Sometimes for ever and ever may have to be recast as “he never ceases to rule” or “he will always rule.”

After acclaiming Yahweh as the universal and everlasting king, the psalmist announces the doom of the heathen (the nations; see comments on 2.1 and 9.5): they will perish from his land. The meaning is not that of natural death, but of their being removed from the land of Israel. His land is the LORD’s land. Some commentators and translators take it as past tense, “they have perished” (Kirkpatrick, New English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible de Jérusalem); others as future (An American Translation, Revised Standard Version, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Bible en français courant, Good News Translation); the Septuagint translates as imperative, addressed to the heathen, “Vanish!”; Briggs takes it as an imperative addressed to God, “Destroy the nations.” The context seems to favor the future tense.

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 .