All peoples, and not just the Israelites, are called upon to fear the LORD (see comments on 5.7; 15.4), to stand in awe of him, for his power is unlimited. The two verbs are parallel and practically synonymous, describing that feeling of reverence, awe, respect, and fear, that a devout Israelite felt before Yahweh.

Line b of verse 8 shifts from the general word earth in line a to the specific all the inhabitants of the world. The sense is that line b heightens the effect of line a and may be translated in English “what is more, let all the people of the world….”

The Hebrew particle which is here translated For does not introduce a reason clause. It is rather an extra syllable whose function is to add an extra beat to the line.

When God spoke it came to be (Good News Translation “the world was created”), literally “it was”; at his command all created things came into being (literally “it stood”).

In some languages it will be necessary to avoid the passive construction of the Good News Translation and say “When he spoke, he created the world,” “By speaking he created the world,” or “He created the world. He did this by speaking.”

It seems better in this context to take the verb “to stand” in verse 9b to mean “it was created” (as the Septuagint translates), rather than “it stood firm,” as some have it. Briggs: “it sprang into existence and presented itself.” Bible en français courant uses a colloquial phrase in verse 9b: “no sooner said than done.”

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 .