Bible de Jérusalem and New Jerusalem Bible bring out the strophic arrangement of verses 1-3 by printing them as two strophes of three lines each.

All humankind is exhorted to praise the LORD. The new song (see 33.3; 40.3) is probably this psalm itself, which is offered as one more hymn in praise of Yahweh. All the earth must in many languages be expressed by “all the people in the world.”

Bless his name in verse 2a means “praise him”; for bless see 16.7, and for name see 5.11. Bible en français courant translates “thank him for being your God.” In verse 2b Good News Translation interprets his salvation as a reference to Israel’s own experience, “he has saved us”; but the text may mean either Yahweh’s power to save, his nature as savior, or else his future victory over all the enemies of Israel. New English Bible has “triumph,” and New Jerusalem Bible “victory”; Bible en français courant “that he is the Savior.” In any case his salvation in verse 2b is parallel with his glory in verse 3a and his marvelous works in verse 3b. In this context his glory can be translated “his fame” or “his greatness.” All three describe Yahweh as a God who manifests himself (glory) by means of his mighty deeds on behalf of his people (his salvation). For marvelous works see “wonderful deeds” in 9.1. It should be noted that the verb translated Declare in verse 3a is a synonym of the verb tell of in verse 2b; the verb in verse 2b means “tell good news,” so Good News Translation translates “Proclaim … the good news.”

The announcement of Yahweh’s great deeds is to be made among the nations, among all the peoples (verse 3). The expression his glory among the nations and his marvelous works may be handled as synonymous and may be rendered, for example, “tell all the tribes how great he is.”

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 .