The psalmist exhorts himself, O my soul (see 42.5, 11; 43.5), to praise Yahweh, literally Bless (see 16.7). This dialogue of the psalmist with his inner self may be impossible or unnatural to represent in other languages; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Bible en français courant, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translate “I will praise the Lord….” This may be a good model to follow; or else, “I promise that I will praise the LORD….” The expression all that is within me is sometimes rendered “all my innermost,” “all my heart,” or other body parts that represent the whole person.

In verse 1b, for his holy name Bible en français courant has “the holy God.” For translation suggestions on his holy name see 33.21.

Bless the LORD in verse 2 is the third occurrence of this expression in the first three lines of this psalm. The repetition is for emphasis, but in some languages that stylistic device will take a different form than mere repetition. The translator must use the structure that most naturally gives emphasis.

In verse 2b Good News Translation “how kind he is” translates a word which means “(good) deed.” In the Masoretic text the word is in the plural (so most English translations, his benefits; New Jerusalem Bible has “his acts of kindness”); one Hebrew manuscript has the singular. It may be better to be specific, “and do not forget all the good things he has done.” The negative “do not forget” can be expressed by the positive “always remember.”

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 .