In the Hebrew text verses 9-11 follow verse 8, “He is mindful of…,” without a break (see Revised Standard Version); the subject discussed throughout is the agreement made with Abraham and confirmed in turn with Isaac and Jacob (see similar language in 89.3 of the covenant with David). Good News Translation has started a new sentence in verse 9, supplying “He will keep.”

In verse 10 the lines are synonymous, Jacob in line a and Israel in line b, both referring to the patriarch (see also verse 23). For Yahweh’s promise to Abraham see Genesis 12.7; 17.8; to Isaac, Genesis 26.3-4; to Jacob, Genesis 28.13-14. The verb confirmed translates “made stand”; New Jerusalem Bible has “he established.” Most translations in English use the verb “to confirm.”

In verse 10 Good News Translation has “covenant” in line a to represent statute and covenant in lines a and b of the Hebrew text, since they both refer to the same agreement Yahweh made with Jacob. But if a more formal translation is preferred, the following can be said (following Good News Translation style):

• With a law Yahweh confirmed to Jacob
the promise of a covenant that will last forever.

In verse 11 the pronoun you in line a is singular in the Masoretic text; in line b your is plural. The Qumran manuscript has the plural form in both lines. In any case the promise was made to Jacob and to his descendants (see Gen 28.13; 35.12). But it could be that the Masoretic text singular “you” (in line a) and plural “your” (in line b) indicates that in verse 10 Jacob is the patriarch, and Israel is the people of Israel. If this interpretation is adopted, the translation can be as follows:

• With a law the LORD confirmed his promise to Jacob,
and made an eternal covenant with the people of Israel.

In verse 11b “your own possession” translates “your share of the inheritance” (see 16.6 for the two Hebrew words, translated there as “lines” and “heritage”). In languages which distinguish formally between “you” singular and “you” plural, some confusion for the reader may be introduced by making the second “you” plural. If the translator wishes to indicate the plural in the second line, it may be better to say, for example, “it will be a possession for your (singular) descendants.”

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 .