The first line of this verse in Hebrew is “Hate evil, (you) lovers of Yahweh.” This is strange, because it switches abruptly from Yahweh to the people. The change which is made in the text by Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New English Bible, New American Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible, and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy involves two slight alterations, one of which, from the imperative plural “(you) hate” to the plural participle “(you) haters,” is supported by several Hebrew manuscripts and the Syriac. New Jerusalem Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, New International Version, and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, however, follow the Masoretic text.10 Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers the Masoretic text. Translators should feel free to follow the emended text. The lives in line b translates the plural of nefesh (see 3.2), and for his saints see comments on “the godly” in 4.3. In line c the hand means the power (of the wicked). In some languages who hate evil must be recast to say, for example, “who hate the things evil people do.” Likewise, in the last line hand of the wicked must be recast to say “from the power of wicked people.”

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 .