The psalmist prays for God to manifest his power (Arise) and “rule the world,” since all the nations belong to him. As often, the Hebrew verb for Arise does not mean specifically to stand up from a sitting or reclining position, but to take action (see 3.7). The verb “rule” (Good News Translation) translates the Hebrew shafat, which may be rendered judge. The verb translated belong is related to the noun “inheritance, heritage” (see discussion at 16.6). For a discussion of God’s “inheritance,” see comments on 28.9. G. R. Driver, however, relates the verb here to an Assyrian verb “to sift”; so New English Bible “thou dost pass all nations through thy sieve”–a figure of judgment. This does not seem likely.

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 .