The psalmist wants to spend the rest of his life in or near the Temple, in Jerusalem; for dwell in thy tent see discussion of the identical language in 15.1a, and for shelter of thy wings see the similar language in 17.8b; 36.7b. In verse 4a for ever means “all my life” (see the similar thought in 23.6). Dahood, however, takes the word to be an adjective which modifies “tent,” that is, “your eternal tent.” It is best to follow the meaning adopted by Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.

For Selah see 3.2.

The psalmist justifies his petition by reminding God of the psalmist’s vows, which probably are the promises he made to offer sacrifices to God in gratitude for God’s answer to his prayers.

It is not clear what the heritage in verse 5b means; it is usually taken to be the same as “possession” or “inheritance” (see comments at 16.6), which was originally a way of speaking about the Promised Land, and then was extended to mean all of God’s blessings for his people. Bible en français courant translates “their part of the holy land.” Here, then, it would mean that God has blessed the psalmist with the blessings that are given to those who obey him. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “You present rich gifts to all….” It should be noticed that the Masoretic text does not have the personal pronoun me (as Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy have); it says simply “You have given the heritage of those who fear your name,” which Traduction œcuménique de la Bible translates “You have given to those who obey your name their heritage.” But Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation can be defended and are probably to be preferred.

Some, however, instead of taking the Hebrew word yerushah in its usual sense of “possession,” take it to be a variant form of ʾareshah “request, petition” (see 21.2b, the only place where the term clearly occurs) and understand verse 5b to be a request; so New Jerusalem Bible “grant the request of those who fear your name.” It certainly makes good sense to take verse 5b to mean “You have granted the wish of those who honor you” (New English Bible), but this involves changing the Hebrew text. New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, and Weiser are like Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, and these are preferred.

Those who fear thy name: “those who respect (or, obey) you”; for comments on name see 5.11. Line b can sometimes be translated “you have given me the good things you give to those who say you are great” or “… to those who worship you.”

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 .