The psalm opens with an expression of praise for those who are concerned for the poor (or, the helpless; for Blessed is see comments on 1.1). This is somewhat strange, since nothing else is said about this in the rest of the psalm. By various means Dahood and Briggs get other meanings from the text; the majority of commentators and translators, however, agree with the meaning expressed by Good News Translation and Revised Standard Version. Weiser believes that the psalmist is referring to himself, and that the Hebrew verb considers here has the neutral meaning of “pay attention to.” The Hebrew word translated poor occurs here for the first time in Psalms; it may mean “helpless, weak,” being synonymous with the terms used in 40.17. In some languages it is unnatural to express congratulations of happiness when this is addressed in the third person. However, if the translator shifts to the second person in line a, it will be necessary to maintain the second person through the first three verses.

Blessed is he may best be rendered in some languages as “How fortunate is the person” or, in the second person, “How fortunate you are” or “You are truly a happy person if you….”

Good News Translation‘s “concerned for” is rendered sometimes idiomatically as “have a good heart for.”

Delivers translates the verb which in 33.17b is translated “save.”

In the day of trouble in verse 1b means “in time of trouble,” “when he is in trouble (or, difficulty).” The expression in the day of trouble is rendered in some languages idiomatically as “when they see trouble” or “when troubles take hold of them.”

There is some uncertainty over the exact form and meaning of verse 2b, he is called blessed in the land; but in general the thought seems to be that such people will have happiness as they live their lives in the land of Israel (see 37.29 and comments). The Hebrew expression “he will be called” can mean “he will be.” But the expression can be taken to mean that such a person will be highly thought of by his fellow citizens. If land is not described clearly, it may simply mean in the “country” in contrast to the “city.” Accordingly it will sometimes be better to say “land of Israel.”

The expression the will of his enemies implies what his enemies may do to him, and therefore in some languages it is necessary to say, for example, “he will not abandon them and let their enemies harm them.” Will translates nefesh (see 3.2), which New English Bible and Weiser translate “greed” (as in the similar passage 27.12). Bible en français courant translates “in the claws of his enemies.”

In verse 2c the Masoretic text has the second person of direct address as the psalmist speaks to God (see Revised Standard Version); Good News Translation has changed it to third person, to be consistent with verse 2a-b and verse 3a (likewise New English Bible, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). There is no particular merit, as Hebrew Old Testament Text Project proposes, in maintaining the form of the Masoretic text (the same applies to verse 3b). An alternative is to address all the psalm to the LORD in the second person, so as to be consistent with verses 10-12; thus “LORD, you protect him and keep him alive….” However, it may be more important in some languages to address these words to the person who is being congratulated.

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 .