The statement of verse 19a may mean that God’s righteousness, that is, his saving deeds, includes all creation (see comments at 5.8), or else it means that it is confessed by all creatures. But Traduction œcuménique de la Bible and Bible en français courant abandon the figure “reaches the skies” and say simply “Your righteousness/faithfulness is so high!” In English, at least, this does not mean much. New English Bible and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible make “your righteousness” (together with the preceding “your might” of verse 18) the object of the verb “proclaim” in verse 18; Revised Standard Version joins Thy power of verse 18 to thy righteousness of verse 19. It is recommended that the Good News Translation verse division and arrangement of lines be followed.
The expression righteousness, O God, reach the high heavens and Good News Translation‘s “reaches the skies” must be recast somewhat in many languages, since abstracts such as “righteousness” are not thought of as filling up space. This expression may also mean that God’s goodness is beyond understanding (so Anderson). In the light of these various interpretations, the translator will be able to select an expression that is natural and meaningful in the receptor language; for example, “all that you have created tell of your faithfulness,” “your faithfulness, God, is so great that it is told all the way to the skies,” or “your goodness, God, is beyond (high above) our understanding.”
There is none like God (verse 19c); no one can do what God does (see 35.10). The rhetorical question who is like thee? is effective if it is not understood as a request for information. If the language requires a reply to the rhetorical question, the reply will be “No one” or “No one at all.”
The reflection on God’s greatness leads the psalmist to think about his own “great troubles and evils” (verse 20; the Hebrew phrase is alliterative: tsarot rabot weraʿot). These many sore troubles which God has sent on the psalmist have brought him to death’s door, to Sheol, the depths of the earth (see 63.9 and comment), but he is sure that God will bring him back, that he will restore him to health and reward him with greater honor, prestige, and eminence than ever before. The literal meaning of the verbs in the Hebrew text in verse 20b, d is “return to life” and “bring back up.” It is possible that the psalmist was thinking about resurrection. But verse 21 favors the meaning expressed by Good News Translation (see similar thoughts in 30.3; 40.2).
One form of the Masoretic text in verse 20a-b (ketiv) has the plural pronouns “us” instead of me in both lines (which Weiser prefers); and in verse 20d some Hebrew manuscripts have the plural pronoun “us.” “Return us to life” and “bring us back up” can hardly refer to resurrection; they refer to the restoration of the country’s welfare and prosperity. It seems better, however, to translate the text (qere) that has the singular “me” and “my” (also the Septuagint and Syriac).
Translators will have to make some adjustments with the expression the depths of the earth … up again, as does Good News Translation, because this literal expression could easily be misunderstood as referring to being created again out of the earth. Good News Translation‘s “keep me from the grave” will often have to be rendered, for example, “you will not allow me to die.”
In verse 21 my honor is the psalmist’s prestige, greatness, prosperity, power. And comfort is the verb that is used in 23.4; see also comments on “comforters” in 69.20. Here something like “make me happy again” may be preferable. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch and Bible en français courant reverse the two lines, which makes for a more logical statement in these languages.
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 .