The psalm opens with praise. I will bless the LORD means “I will praise (or, thank) the LORD” (see 16.7). If the translator follows the lead of Good News Translation, the words I will bless the LORD will require in many languages some shifting, particularly in relation to “giving thanks.” “Thanks” is often expressed in idiomatic ways; for example, “My heart is large for the LORD” or “My heart says the LORD is good.” Also in some languages one may speak of kindness and goodness in place of thanks; for example, “I accept your goodness, LORD,” or “I salute your kindness…,” or “I say how good the LORD is.”
Line b of verse 1 says the same thing as line a. His praise means “praise to him.” Instead of in my mouth a more natural English expression is “on my lips” (New English Bible, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible).
The word translated LORD is the keyword in this psalm and gives the psalm its basic cohesion. LORD occurs in every verse except verses 5 (where it is replaced by the pronoun), 12, 13, 14, 20, and 21.
In verse 2a the Hebrew verb halal may mean “to boast” (as in 10.3), but more specifically here it means “to praise,” as in 22.22 (so New Jerusalem Bible). But Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “I feel proud of the Lord,” and New Jerusalem Bible “I glory in the LORD” (see New English Bible). My soul means “I” or, with more expression, “From my heart, I” (New Jerusalem Bible). And in the LORD means “because of what the LORD has done” (see 32.11).
The afflicted in verse 2b are those who have no human help (see comments on 9.12); they are exhorted to hear, that is, to listen to what the psalmist is saying (see Bible en français courant) and to be glad, and also to join the psalmist in proclaiming the LORD’s greatness, literally to magnify him (verse 3a), which is paralleled in the next line by exalt his name (see comment on “exalted” in 12.8). His name is parallel with the LORD in verse 3a (see comment on “name” in 5.11). Both verbs mean to proclaim publicly Yahweh’s majesty and might, his greatness and glory.
In some languages the afflicted are referred to as “those whose heads are held down” or “people with tied hands.” In some languages it is not possible to command someone to experience an emotional state such as be glad. Therefore it is often necessary to express this type of indirect command as a wish or request; for example, “I want them to listen and to be glad” or “I ask that the oppressed listen and have cool hearts.” Magnify the LORD with me may sometimes be rendered by the same term used for praise; for example, “say with me that the LORD is great” or “join with me to speak in honor of the 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 .