In verse 14 God responds. In verse 14a the phrase darkness and gloom translates the same two words used in verse 10a; for the expression in verse 14b, see 2.3. Their bonds or “their chains” must often be recast in other languages to say, for example, “the chains that bound these people.”

Verse 15 is the same as verse 8.

Yahweh’s action in setting prisoners free is described in vivid language in verse 16; the verb “smashes” in line b may be understood as cuts in two, as Revised Standard Version translates it; see its use in 75.10a. Instead of doors of bronze it may be better to translate “gates of bronze”; the iron bars in the next line are those that reinforce either the prison gates or the gates of the cities where the Israelites were exiled.

The verse uses the language found in the promise in Isaiah 45.2. Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation use the timeless present tense (also New Jerusalem Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant, New English Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). Verse 16 returns abruptly to extend the description of Yahweh’s acts of salvation in verse 14. In some languages readers will fail to understand this amplification without some clue being added; for example, it is possible to say “he breaks down the enemies’ doors made of bronze and smashes their iron bars, to set his people free.”

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 .