As the Revised Standard Version footnote shows, Thou hatest is the wording of one Hebrew manuscript and of the ancient versions (also Anderson, Good News Translation, New English Bible, New American Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible); Weiser, Dahood, New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy have “I hate.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers the Masoretic text, “I hate” (“C” decision). Either wording can be defended; in favor of “You hate” is that fact that but I trust in the LORD in line b contrasts the psalmist with those who pay regard to vain idols. If “I hate” is chosen, it may be better to begin line b with “and” and not but: “and I trust in you” (the psalmist’s hatred for idolaters complementing his trust in Yahweh).

The second verb in verse 6a (Revised Standard Version pay regard to) usually means protect, guard (see “protect” in 12.7); here it has the sense of “revere” (K-B); Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, New English Bible, New American Bible translate “worship,” like Good News Translation; New Jerusalem Bible has “worshippers”; New Jerusalem Bible translates “rely on.”

The phrase translated vain idols (New English Bible “useless idols”; New International Version “worthless idols”) is “deceptive illusions”; the noun means a transitory vapor, or mist, which is insubstantial and soon vanishes. In Jonah 2.8 the phrase has the same meaning as here (so Briggs, Anderson, Weiser). Some, however, take it in the sense of “empty folly” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “false vanities” (An American Translation). The translation of vain idols will depend upon the way in which this Hebrew expression is to be interpreted. If it is taken in the sense of “empty vanities,” it may be rendered in some languages as “things that have no worth” or “worthless things in which people cannot put their trust.” If it is taken in the more traditional sense of idols, one may say, for example, “idols that have no value,” “idols that can do nothing,” or “wooden gods that are really nothing.”

In verse 7 the statement of the psalmist’s coming joy results from his consciousness of Yahweh’s care, expressed in the following two lines, which are nearly synonymous: thou hast seen … thou hast taken heed, and my affliction … my adversities. The verb translated taken heed of may have the more effective sense of “care for” (Anderson, New English Bible) or “watch over” (New American Bible), or else “take care of.” The parallelism with hast seen in the preceding line, however, seems to favor “know” here (Good News Translation).

My adversities translates the Hebrew “the troubles of my nefesh” (see 3.2).

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 .