Yea translates the initial word of the verse; here, however, its main function is to fit the acrostic scheme. Good News Translation therefore omits it for reasons of style.

The psalmist asks that the shame of disgrace or defeat should not come to those who wait for Yahweh. This verse is understood as a statement by Good News Translation, New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant; but Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy understand it as a request, which seems to fit the context better. The Hebrew verb wait for expresses an attitude of hope, expectation, confidence.

Good News Translation “Defeat does not come” must in many languages be recast to say, for example, “Those who trust in you will not be defeated” or, stated positively, “Those who trust in you will defeat their enemies.”

In line b are … treacherous (Good News Translation “to rebel”) translates a verb meaning to deal treacherously with, in the sense of being a traitor or a rebel. The adverb means “without cause” or “in vain”; so New Jerusalem Bible “groundlessly” (see 7.4). It can mean “unsuccessfully”; so New Jerusalem Bible “empty-handed.” New English Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy have “without cause”; New American Bible “heedlessly.” Good News Translation has taken it in the sense of “without motive,” and so translates “quick to rebel”; Revised Standard Version wantonly means needlessly, without justification.

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 .