Verse 13 is instructive in that it reverses completely the normal order of general to specific parallelism. Perhaps by now the translator is prepared to see the figurative language, the specific term, the consequence, the effect in the second of two parallel lines. That the biblical poets were not slaves of their poetic devices should encourage translators to experiment also. If in the receptor language intensification is sacrificed by the reversal, the translator may switch the lines. He should determine first what the difference in poetic meaning would be, if any.

For the verb “to thunder” used of Yahweh, see 29.3; Good News Translation “from the sky” and Revised Standard Version in the heavens reflect a difference in the Hebrew manuscripts. The LORD also thundered may be unnatural in many languages, since only the sky is said to thunder. Therefore this expression may have to be recast as “The LORD spoke like thunder from the sky” or “When the LORD spoke it sounded like thunder.”

The Most High is sometimes rendered “God who is above all others” or “God who is the greatest god.” For similar comments on the Most High, see 7.17. For comments on voice see verse 6.

The Hebrew text has the words hailstones and coals of fire at the end of this verse (as at the end of verse 12); this seems an obvious repetition here and does not fit the context as the object of the verbal phrase uttered his voice. It is omitted by the Septuagint and is not in the parallel 2 Samuel 22.14; New Jerusalem Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, Bible en français courant, New American Bible, New English Bible also omit. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project (“C” decision) retains the phrase, citing factors 5 (assimilation to parallel passages) and 1 (narrow basis for a variant form of the text). It seems best to omit this phrase.

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 .