In verses 11a-b, 12a the whole universe is called upon to praise Yahweh: heavens, earth, sea, field, together with all the living beings that inhabit the seas and the fields. Four verbs are used synonymously: be glad (see 9.2), rejoice (see 9.14), roar (see 46.3), and exult (see 28.7). For sing for joy in verse 12b, see “shout for joy” in 20.5. In languages in which inanimate objects do not express human emotions, it may be necessary to add a simile; for example, “earth and sky be glad as people are glad.” The same is true for sea, fields, and trees.

In verse 12b the form of the Hebrew is not an exhortation, as in verses 11a-b, 12a, but a declaration; so Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, New American Bible, New International Version, Dahood; but Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant, and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy disregard the difference and translate the line as though it were like the preceding three.

The Hebrew in the first part of verse 13 is repetitious: “before Yahweh, for he comes, for he comes to rule the earth.” Good News Translation has expressed it more succinctly, “when the LORD comes to rule the earth.”

The verb translated “rule” by Good News Translation in verse 13a-b is shafat (not the same verb used in verse 10a), which in many contexts has the precise meaning of to judge and is so translated here by Revised Standard Version and others. But here more is implied than the exercise of judgment: Yahweh as king (verse 10) is coming to rule, to govern, the world (so Good News Translation, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Dahood); see the verb in 72.2. Good News Translation “justice” translates tsedeq (see 4.1), and “fairness” translates ʾemunah (see 36.5). Revised Standard Version and others translate the latter word by truth or “faithfulness.” Anderson defines the phrase here: “with self-consistency and without arbitrariness.”

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 .