In the last two verses the psalmist exhorts the people of Israel to hope in the LORD because of his steadfast love (see 5.7) and his plenteous redemption, that is, his willingness to save. This phrase can be taken to mean “complete freedom” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy) or “great power to redeem” (New Jerusalem Bible; similarly New English Bible); Bible en français courant has “he has a thousand ways to set you free.” Good News Translation takes it to refer to his attitude, his constant willingness to save his people. In some languages it may be necessary to switch to a verb phrase and say in line b “because he always loves you,” and in line c it may be necessary to make explicit the goal of saving; for example, “and always wants to save you.”

In verse 8 the Hebrew is emphatic: “He (and none other) will save” (see New English Bible), or “It is he who will save” (see New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible de Jérusalem). This emphasis is worth representing in translation. Salvation from all his iniquities seems to include both forgiveness of sins and deliverance from their consequences (so Cohen, Anderson).

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 .