The last two qualifications have to do with financial and legal situations. (9) Interest in financial transactions with a fellow Israelite was forbidden (Lev 25.36-37), but permitted in dealing with non-Israelites (Deut 23.19-20). The situation in this passage is that of helping someone in time of distress, not a business loan in commercial affairs (see Dentan, Dahood). It is pointed out that in some commercial loans transacted in other societies at that time, interest ran as high as fifty percent a year. Interest, although extremely common in most areas, is not always known. In such cases one may say “he gives money to the one who borrows and does not take back more than he gave” or “he lends things to someone who needs them and gets back only what he lent.”
(10) To take a bribe against the innocent means to accept money or some other kind of favor as payment for testifying falsely against an innocent person at a trial (see Exo 23.8; Deut 16.19; 27.25). Bribe is often expressed idiomatically; for example, “to bite with money” or “to close the eyes with gifts.” Innocent may be rendered “who has done no bad deed.” Line b may be translated “People cannot close his eyes with money to make him speak against those who have done no wrong” or “he does not accept gifts so that he will say things against….”

The psalm closes with a promise for those who comply with these requirements: they will never be moved (for comments on the verb see 10.6). The security here spoken of is no doubt spiritual, but it also includes the material aspect, since in the thought of that time the two were obviously related (see 30.6). Never be moved (Good News Translation “secure”) is rendered idiomatically in some languages as “not falling” or “sitting firmly.” The concluding line may sometimes be translated “People who live like this will always sit firmly” or “People who act in this way will not be carried off.”

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 .