The verbal phrase gave me vengeance (here plural, “acts of vengeance”) means retribution. The related verb is often used of God as one who punishes the enemies of Israel because of their evil actions. The idea of “getting even” is not entirely absent from the word but need not necessarily be stressed in translation. New Jerusalem Bible has here “vindicated me,” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “avenged me,” Bible en français courant “gives my revenge.” The thought here is that the defeat of the enemies in battle (as the next line makes clear) is the way in which the psalmist “got even” with them. So Good News Translation translates “He gives me victory over my enemies,” the same meaning expressed in the next line, subdued peoples under me. Gave me vengeance must sometimes be rendered “helps me defeat my enemies.”

Delivered is the same verb used in verse 43.

In verse 48 the word translated by Revised Standard Version yea is omitted by some manuscripts and also in the parallel in 2 Samuel 22.49 (and is omitted by Good News Translation). It is a way of emphasizing what follows; in current English “indeed” would be the proper way to represent it.

Adversaries in verse 48b is “those who rise up against,” as in verse 39b, “assailants.”

For deliver see 7.1.

Men of violence: the Hebrew is singular, “man of violence,” usually interpreted as a collective term; some, however, take it to be a reference to Saul (who is mentioned in the Hebrew title of the psalm). It is better to represent it as a plural. For violence see comments on 7.16. Men of violence may often be rendered as “men who kill others” or “men who injure others.”

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 .