Verse 35 has both a textual and a structural problem. From the latter point of view, lines a and b both contain a figure, but line b does not appear to heighten the effect. Line c even reduces the power of the images of shield and right hand with the colorless thy help. None of the alternative wordings suggested for help causes line c to fit the usual pattern. It may, however, be possible to take line c as a consequence of the first two lines, in which case the meaning is “and so your help has made me great.” In terms of the discourse structure, there is support for this interpretation. Verse 35 initiates a new flurry of parallel lines which are narrative (verses 35-42), in that they describe how God enabled the psalmist to defeat his enemies.
The shield of thy salvation is a figure of protection and safety in battle. The phrase thy salvation refers to God’s saving the psalmist, not to God’s being saved. In languages where the shield is unknown or only partially known through a loan word, it will often be best to transfer to a nonfigurative expression as in Good News Translation. Even if shield is maintained, it will often be misleading to express salvation as a noun, as in Revised Standard Version. A verb phrase may be better; for example, “you give me your shield which saves me” or, more fully, “you give me your shield which saves my life.”
Right hand means power or help; and the verb translated supported means to keep safe, hold up, sustain. In some languages it will be appropriate to keep the expression right hand, as this is the hand that is associated with strength.
In line c the word translated help (Good News Translation “care,” or Revised Standard Version footnote “gentleness”) elsewhere means humility (Pro 15.33; 18.12; 22.4; Zech 2.3). New Jerusalem Bible has “care” (or, in a footnote, “condescension”); Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “kindness”; New English Bible “providence”; another possibility is “loving care” (with footnote). Some have related the word to the verb “to answer” (as it is in 2 Sam 22.36) and translate “by your answering (you have made me great)”; Bible en français courant “you answer my cries for help and make me strong.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project says either translation is possible: “your response has made me great” or “your subjugation (of my enemies) has made me great.”
Good News Translation has reversed lines b and c, as a more natural progression of thought.
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 .