In verses 4-9 the psalmist tells why the people of Israel should praise Yahweh: it is because he takes pleasure in his people (see 147.11) and he gives them victory (verse 4). In verse 4b the humble (see comments on “the afflicted” in 9.12) describes Yahweh’s people as those whose only source of help and strength is Yahweh himself, and not any human being; they are completely dependent on him for victory. Good News Translation does not link verse 4 to the preceding verse. However, the two need to be related, and in some languages it may be necessary to begin verse 4 by saying, for example, “Do this because the LORD delights in his people” or “… the LORD’s people make him happy.” The verb translated adorns occurs only here in Psalms; victory is seen as a garland, or crown, which is placed on the head of the victor. Adorns the humble with victory may be recast to say, for example, “he honors those who depend on him, by helping them defeat their enemies.”

In verse 5 the people of Israel are called, as often, the faithful (see “the godly” in 4.3); glory in line a has the specific sense of victory or triumph (New English Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). If the translator ends verse 4 as suggested above, Good News Translation‘s “in their triumph” may be handled by saying “Let God’s people rejoice because they have won the battle.” It is not certain what the Hebrew on their couches in verse 5b means. Some think it refers to the seats at the religious meals; others, that it refers to prayer mats (so New English Bible “as they kneel before him”; similarly New Jerusalem Bible); others take it to mean “even when they are sick in bed”; and still others believe it means “even when they are (supposed to be) asleep” (so Good News Translation, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Bible en français courant, Dahood, Cohen). Some emend the Hebrew on their couches to “according to their families” or to “in their tabernacle,” that is, the Temple (Briggs).

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 .