In a manner like the author of Psalm 49 (see 49.1-4), the psalmist begins his work by telling his readers what he is about to do. He instructs them, as a teacher does his pupils. The nominal phrase my teaching must be shifted in some languages to a verb phrase; for example, “Listen to the things which I teach you” or “Hear the words that I teach you.”

I will open my mouth in verse 2a is a way of calling attention to what follows, and may be translated as Good News Translation has done, or else as New Jerusalem Bible has it, “I will expound….”

Parable translates mashal “proverb, saying” (see 49.4a and comment), and dark sayings translates the word “riddle,” as in 49.4b; the two words are used synonymously in parallel position. New English Bible (for mashal) has “a story with a meaning”; New Jerusalem Bible “I will expound a theme.” The meaning is that he will teach by means of proverbs (parables, wise sayings). The meaning of verse 2b is “to expound (or, explain) lessons from the past” (see Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). Good News Translation intends to say that the psalmist proposes to explain past mysteries. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates the whole verse as follows: “I will remind you of the past, to point out to you God’s guiding instructions.”

Verse 2 is quoted in Matthew 13.35. Line a in Matthew 13.35 is exactly the same as the Septuagint translation of this verse; line b translates the Hebrew text differently from the Septuagint.

The term parable or Good News Translation‘s “wise sayings” is sometimes rendered as “word examples,” “picture words,” or “sayings of the old men.” Revised Standard Version‘s dark sayings renders the Hebrew term for riddle, and in the present context refers to secret sayings shared by the people. In the Americas riddles are known and used among nearly all Indian speakers, but in other areas of the world they may be less known or totally absent. In the latter cases it is best to translate as “secret sayings” or “words that hold secrets.”

The psalmist is going to deal with the recital of Israel’s history as transmitted by succeeding generations (verses 3-4). So he switches from the singular I in verse 2 to the plural we in verses 3-4. As the former generations had done (verse 3), so the psalmist’s generation will tell the story of the great deeds of the LORD to the coming generation (verse 4).

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 .