In verse 8a Good News Translation “as he had promised” translates “on account of his name” (see 23.3). Or else the translation can be “to maintain his fame (or, honor)” (see Bible en français courant “in concern for his honor”; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “bringing honor to his name”). Make known his mighty power may be recast in some languages to say, for example, “so that the people could see how powerful he was.”

In verse 9a the verb rebuked portrays God as angrily commanding the Sea of Reeds to part in order to let the people walk through; see a similar use of the related noun in 104.7. The sea is treated like a disobedient servant (Briggs). Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has “he threatened,” and New Jerusalem Bible “He sent His blast against the Sea of Reeds.” In line b the deep (Hebrew “the deeps”) is the same as the Sea of Reeds in line a; and desert here stands for “dry land” (see Exo 14.22). He rebuked the Red Sea and Good News Translation‘s “gave a command to…” must sometimes be modified to include the content of the rebuke or order; for example, “he ordered the Red Sea to dry up, and it dried up.”

In verses 10-11 the Egyptians are identified as the foe … the enemy … their adversaries. In both lines of verse 10 Hebrew has from the hand of, that is, from the power of. Two different verbs are used: the common verb yashaʿ for saved (see “Help” in 12.1) and gaʾal for delivered (Good News Translation “rescued”; see “redeemer” in 19.14 and “redeemed” in 74.2). Both lines in verse 10 are the same in meaning and may need to be reduced to one line in some languages.

In some languages it will not be natural to say in verse 11 that “the water drowned their enemies,” but rather “their enemies drowned in the water” or “their enemies drowned.”

Momentarily the people believed Yahweh (Exo 14.31) and sang praises to him (verse 12). Soon, however, they forgot what he had done. It should be clear that the subject of verse 12 is the Israelites, not the Egyptians.

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 .