The people pray that God not punish them for the sins of their ancestors. The Hebrew Do not remember against us can be translated somewhat idiomatically, “Don’t hold the sins of our ancestors against us” or, as Biblia Dios Habla Hoy translates, “Do not make us pay for the sins of our ancestors.” The word Good News Translation translates “ancestors” (so most commentators and translators) is taken by some to mean “earlier, former” (see McCullough). So New Jerusalem Bible “Do not hold our former iniquities against us.” This makes sense, but the other makes just as much sense: one generation does not want to pay for the sins of former generations.

For compassion see comments on “abundant mercy” in 51.1. Good News Translation “we have lost all hope” translates “We are very low”; Dahood translates “We are down and out.” In some languages it may be necessary to place the reason for the psalmist’s plea before the plea; for example, “we are brought very low; therefore let your compassion come….” Brought very low is sometimes rendered “we are weakened,” “our hearts are low,” “trouble fills our hearts,” or “trembling takes hold of us.” Let thy compassion come speedily to meet us translates the Hebrew closely in form but will need to be recast in many languages, similarly to Good News Translation, or, for example, “quickly show us your good face,” “make us see now your warm heart,” or “have a warm heart now for us.”

God of our salvation in verse 9a means “the God who saves us” (see translations and comments at 18.46; 24.5; 25.5; 27.9; 65.5).

The people plead to be saved for the glory of thy name … for thy name’s sake. The two expressions here are synonymous, which Good News Translation has represented by one line, “for the sake of your own honor,” and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy by “for the glory of your name.” Yahweh’s fame and reputation were affected by his people’s situation: when they were humiliated, so was he; when they were praised, so was he. So it is not only for their own sake but also for God’s sake that the people pray for the defeat of their enemies, the enemies of God. The expression “for the sake of your own honor” must often be recast to say, for example, “so that the other tribes will honor you” or “so that other people will respect you.”

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 .