The psalmist concludes with a promise always to praise God for his faithfulness (verse 22) and to proclaim his righteous help (verse 24). For the two instruments named in verse 22 (nebel and kinnor), see discussion in 33.2. Praise thee with the harp for thy faithfulness represents a complex of three events: the psalmist praising God, someone playing the harp, and God being faithful to his people. In translation these three elements may be restructured to say, for instance, “God is faithful to his people, and so I will sing with the harp to praise him.”
In verse 22c sing praises (Good News Translation “play hymns”) translates the same verb used in verse 23b; the verb (zamar) is used of singing praises accompanied by instrumental music (see comment at 7.17).
The Holy One of Israel is a title for God used frequently in Isaiah, but only twice again in the Book of Psalms (78.41; 89.18). It not only emphasizes the character of God as holy, but also that God brought Israel into an exclusive dedication to himself as his own people; in this sense they are also a “holy” people, who serve and worship Yahweh alone. Holy One of Israel must often be recast as “The God who is holy and whom Israel worships.”
Revised Standard Version My lips stands for the entire person, not just the mouth; and so Good News Translation “I.” My soul (Good News Translation “my whole being”) translates “my nefesh” (see 3.2).
In verse 23c “because” translates at term that is normally the relative pronoun which (so Revised Standard Version and others); but it is also used as a conjunction, giving the cause of an action, and that is how Good News Translation and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible interpret it here.
Righteous help in verse 24a translates tsedaqah (see 5.8); New Jerusalem Bible, as usual, translates “saving justice,” and Bible en français courant, as usual, “faithfulness.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “that you are righteous.”
For verse 24c see similar language in 35.26; and for who sought to do me hurt in verse 24d see the same clause in verse 13, which is identical in the Hebrew.
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 .