Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation start a new sentence here, although, in the parallel in Psa 18.32, Revised Standard Version takes this verse as an added comment on God, following the rhetorical question of the previous verse.
Revised Standard Version uses the past tense of the verbs in verses 33-34, thereby referring to a specific event in the past (also New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New American Bible). Good News Translation and many other translations use the present tense, indicating habitual action on the part of God. This seems preferable. Interpreters do not agree on how the Hebrew verbs in verses 33-46 should be translated. Revised Standard Version uses the past tense, Good News Translation uses present tense, and Revised English Bible uses both present and future. All of these are possible, but translators should choose one interpretation and be consistent throughout these verses.
On the words This God see verse 31 above.
My strong refuge: compare verses 3 and 31, and see also the similar expression in verse 40. In the Masoretic Text there is no verb before the words my strong refuge; and according to the vowels in the Masoretic Text, my strong refuge is a description of God. However, if the vowels are changed it is possible to read “[God] makes me strong.” This second reading is followed in numerous modern translations such as New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible, and is supported by the Septuagint and a Hebrew manuscript from Qumran. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, however, claims that the reading of the Septuagint arose under the influence of the parallel passage in Psa 18. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text.
The verbal phrase made my way safe in verse 33b is in Hebrew “he opened up perfectly my way.” Revised Standard Version is based on the parallel text in Psa 18.32. The Syriac and part of the Septuagint tradition, in agreement with Psa 18.32, also say “he made.” In Hebrew the verbs “he gave [or, he made]” and “he opened up [or, let (prisoners) go free]” are similar in spelling. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives an {A} rating to the Masoretic Text. The language is metaphorical and means that God “has set me free on my way.” Some languages may prefer something like “made me free and put me on the road” or “opened the way for me and delivered me [from harm].”
In verse 34 the idea of feet like hinds’ feet (that is, those of a deer) may mean swiftness (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, New American Bible, Revised English Bible), “sure-footedness” (see Good News Translation), or agility (Bible en français courant). It is not unreasonable to suppose that it carries all of these ideas at the same time. If these ideas are conveyed by the comparison without making specific the basis of comparison, a more literal rendering will be acceptable. Otherwise it may be necessary to choose one of these characteristics to make the receptor language translation more meaningful.
Where it is possible to maintain the simile, this should be done. However, the translator must make certain that the animal used in the simile is associated with speed and sure-footedness. If no such animal is known for these characteristics, then it will be best to avoid the simile; for example, “he makes my legs able to run fast.”
Secure on the heights can mean victorious in battle. This seems to be the interpretation of Anchor Bible, “made me stand upright.” But most commentators see this expression as continuing the previous idea, meaning to be secure even when on high, dangerous places, or else to be in high places where one is safe from one’s enemies. Where heights are unknown one must use the term for hill and qualify it by “the highest.”
Although nearly all translations say “the heights,” the Masoretic Text appears to say “my heights.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} evaluation to the Masoretic Text and recommends the translation “my heights” (so Bible de Jérusalem, 1998 edition). But such a translation makes little sense. It seems better to follow the explanation found in the footnote of New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, that the ending of this noun is not the first person singular suffix but is rather a poetic spelling of the word “heights.” Since the Hebrew noun translated heights can also refer to the back of a person or animal, Fox translates this part of the verse as “Setting his feet like does, on his back he makes me stand.” That is, David proclaims in metaphorical language that God set his own feet firmly in place like that of a female deer and then made David stand on God’s back, where he would be secure. None of the other translations consulted follow the interpretation found in Fox‘s translation, but it is possible.
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .