As noted in the introduction, in these verses the speaker (presumably the king) stands in front of the Temple and requests admission (verse 19); a voice from inside (perhaps Levites, who were the gatekeepers) states the condition for entering the Temple (verse 20); the king is admitted and praises Yahweh for having given him victory (verse 21).

It is better to keep each of the three verses in a separate paragraph, as Good News Translation does. In Revised Standard Version verse 21 is joined to verses 22-25, but it should be noted that in verse 21 the speaker is one person (I), while in verses 22-25 several persons are speaking (“our … us … we”).

Good News Translation has taken the gates of righteousness in verse 19a to mean “the gates of the Temple” (also Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). Bible en français courant translates “the gates reserved for the faithful” and in a footnote identifies them as the Temple gates. See Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “Open to me the gate of the Temple, through which the faithful are allowed to enter.” As in the case of verse 15b, New Jerusalem Bible translates “the gates of victory” here and “the victorious” in verse 20b; New English Bible has “the gates of victory” and “the victors”; Dahood has “the gates of victory” and “the triumphant.” This may be the meaning of the phrase, but it seems better to follow either Good News Translation “the righteous” in verse 15b, or Bible en français courant and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “the faithful”; or, best of all, translate here as Good News Translation has done in verse 15a, “God’s people.”

The expression the gate of the LORD in verse 20a may be understood as synonymous with the gates in verse 19a, emphasizing here that the gates lead to the sanctuary of Yahweh, according to Anderson. In some languages gate of the LORD suggests a gate that has the purpose of keeping the LORD out. Therefore it may be necessary to say “This is the door you enter to go to the LORD.”

The same verb “to thank” is used in verses 19b and 21a. Answered me in verse 21a means, as very frequently in the Psalms, “you responded to my request,” “you did what I asked you to do.”

Verse 21b is like verse 14b; in both places the psalmist is talking about the victory that God has given him in his battle against his enemies.

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 .