In verses 40-46 the psalmist summarizes a long history of Israel’s constant sins, their punishment, their repentance and cries for help, and the LORD’s recurring mercy–a theme which runs through the historical books of the Old Testament, especially Judges.

Verse 40 describes Yahweh’s reaction: he became angry with his people, and he abhorred them. For the verb “despise, detest, loathe,” see 5.6b. In verse 40b, for Israel as Yahweh’s heritage see verse 5.

It was because of God’s anger that the Israelites were time and again defeated by their enemies and ruled by them (verses 41-42). Good News Translation‘s “abandoned them to the power of the heathen” must be recast in many languages to say, for example, “He allowed the other nations to conquer them.” It should be clear that the nations in line a and those who hated them in line b both refer to the same people, the Gentile powers that time and again oppressed the people of Israel.

Revised Standard Version in verse 42b is unnecessarily wordy; see New Jerusalem Bible “and they were subject to their power,” New International Version “and subjected them to their power,” and New Jerusalem Bible “crushing them under their rule.”

In verse 43a delivered translates the verb used in 7.1. In verse 43b Good News Translation “they chose to rebel” translates “they rebelled in their plans” (see Revised Standard Version); it indicates a deliberate, wilful act (New Jerusalem Bible “they were deliberately rebellious”; New Jerusalem Bible “they still defied him deliberately”). In verse 43c the Hebrew verb is rather unusual, occurring in this form only here in the Old Testament. Verse 43c is literally “and were brought low in their sin,” forming a parallel with line b. “In their sin” can be understood as Good News Translation has, “sank deeper into sin” (also Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant), or else as Revised Standard Version and others, “because of their sin.” The latter may be preferable. In this case the translation can be “and were ruined (or, brought to ruin) because of their sins” or “… because they had sinned.”

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 .