, Ps At sunrise the young lions go back to their dens, where they stay the whole day (verse 22). Sunrise, also, is the time for people to start working, and they stay at it until sunset (verse 23). Verse 23 must not be related to verse 22 in such a way as to imply that people don’t leave their homes for work until the lions have gone back to their dens (because they are afraid the lions will attack them). This is hardly a problem in urban industrial societies, but it can be a real problem in some parts of the world.

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 .