This closing prayer is addressed to Yahweh in the second person; so Good News Translation introduces the vocative “LORD” at the end of the first line.

Here thy heritage is parallel with thy people; the people of Israel were considered to be Yahweh’s special possession, who belonged to him alone (see 1 Kgs 8.53). See the king’s “heritage” in 2.8 and the people’s “heritage” in 16.6.

The LORD, as shepherd (see 23.1), is asked to carry them for ever; the verb carry brings to mind the picture of a shepherd carrying his sheep (see Isa 40.11); Good News Translation “take care of them” broadens the concept to describe the shepherd’s role as a whole, of which one particular aspect was to carry the sheep whenever necessary. In languages in which the term for shepherd has the proper meaning to be used in this context, it should be used. Where it does not, or there is no such term, the translator will have to speak of the function of the shepherd, that is, “caring and protecting”; for example, “take care of your people, LORD” or “watch over your people, LORD.”

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 .