The opening prayer seems to reflect the form of the priestly prayer found in Numbers 6.24-26. For comments on the language used in verse 1, see 4.1, 6b; 31.16.

Good News Translation has used the direct form of address to God in verse 1 in order to be consistent with its use in verses 2-5; Revised Standard Version, following the Hebrew text, has the third person in verse 1 and, without a break in the sentence, the second person in verse 2.

The expressions be gracious or “be merciful” are often expressed idiomatically in many languages; for example, “show us your good heart.”

For Selah see 3.2.

The request is that all the people in the world (verse 2a earth; verse 2b all nations) may learn from experience God’s will for them (literally, his way) and his saving power. New Jerusalem Bible translates well: “Then the earth will acknowledge your ways and all the nations your power to save.” The Hebrew verb “to know” here means not only intellectual knowledge but an experiential knowledge, that is, knowledge that results from experience.

Thy way or Good News Translation‘s “your will” must often be rendered as a verb phrase; for example, “so that all the people will know what you want them to do.” Thy saving power again must often be translated as a clause; for example, “so that the people of all the nations may be saved by you,” or “so that all the nations may be saved,” or “… know that you have the power to save them.”

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 .