Now the psalmist bursts into praise; evidently he has received some word of assurance that God will answer his prayer (see similar situation in 20.6).

For the name of God see comments on 5.11; for magnify him see 34.3 and comments.

The LORD is happier with thanksgiving than he is with the offering of animals in sacrifice. Good News Translation makes explicit the implied action of sacrifice by inserting “offering him” and “sacrificing.” Good News Translation “cattle” represents the singular ox (New English Bible “bull”), and “full-grown bull” stands for the literal bull with horns and hoofs. The two singular forms, an ox and a bull, represent the animals that are offered in sacrifice, and in translation a plural form may be used, if it is more natural. This verse, which minimizes the importance of animal sacrifices (see also 40.6; 50.8-14; 51.16-17), may reveal one of the causes of the hatred directed toward the psalmist. In some languages it may be necessary to show that the cattle in Good News Translation are offered to be sacrificed; for example, “… more than offering him cattle to be burned.”

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 .