As sovereign ruler over history, Yahweh, from where he rules in heaven, sees all the people of the world and knows what they do (for a similar idea see 14.2; see also 11.4). For the sons of men see 11.14 and comments.

From where he sits enthroned can often be adapted to local terminology for the position of the ruler; for example, “from his chief’s stool,” “from the chief’s room,” and “from the king’s court.”

Nothing escapes Yahweh’s notice; he even fashions the hearts of them all. The verb is the one used of a potter fashioning a bowl, and the statement that Yahweh fashions their hearts means that Yahweh not only forms the human body (see the verb in Gen 2.7-8) but also the mind. This does not imply that Yahweh controls a person’s thinking, as “He forms all their thoughts” (Good News Translation) may appear to say. It simply means that he creates the human mind and therefore knows how it works. The Hebrew word usually translated “all together” (Revised Standard Version of them all) is here somewhat difficult to understand; Briggs and K-B “thoroughly”; New English Bible “alike”; Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “the same heart (for them all)”; Bible de Jérusalem “only he (forms their hearts).” In some languages it will be necessary to extend the idea of thoughts to include both thinking and willing; for example, “he has given them ability to think and to want,” or Bible en français courant, “intelligence and will.”

The last line of verse 15, observes all their deeds, can be translated “he sees everything they do”; but in parallel with the preceding line, the thought is rather “knows” (Good News Translation), “understands” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “discerns” (New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible).

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 .