The furious storm, still described as The voice of the LORD, breaks down even the cedars of Lebanon, trees that were famous for their massive size and strength. In languages where large cedars, particularly those that grow in Lebanon, are unknown, an illustration may be required. The voice … breaks the cedars may sometimes be rendered “when the LORD speaks he breaks the strongest trees, he even breaks the strong trees of Lebanon.” Alternatively, if there is a tree well known for its size and strength, a term for such a tree may be substituted.

In verse 6 the Hebrew Lebanon is not the country but “the mountains of Lebanon”; and Sirion is the Phoenician name for Mount Hermon, the highest mountain in Syria (9,150 feet, or 2,789 meters), some 42 miles (67 kilometers) northeast of Lake Galilee. Since many readers are acquainted with Lebanon as a country, it may be advisable to indicate in the text “mountains of Lebanon.”

In poetic language the psalmist describes how the mountains shake in the storm; some suggest that the storm is accompanied by an earthquake, but poetic license must be allowed for. In languages where the calf and ox are unknown, other domestic animals may be substituted.

The picture of a range of mountains jumping may be beyond even the poetic expression of some people. In some cases it may be necessary to say “he shakes the mountains called Lebanon and they jump like a calf jumps” or “when the LORD causes an earthquake, the mountains of Lebanon go up and down like a jumping animal.”

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 .