At the end of verse 1a, Revised Standard Version my heart is steadfast is not in the Masoretic text but is found in five Hebrew manuscripts, the Septuagint, and the Syriac (in these it appears as it is in the Masoretic text of 57.5b). Good News Translation here follows the Masoretic text (which is what Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends). The expression “I have complete confidence” in many languages is expressed by means of figurative language; for example, “My heart lies down on,” “My innermost rests on,” or “My liver sits on.”

In verse 1c Awake translates the verb that is in 57.8; the Hebrew text here says simply “now.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project translates the phrase “also my glory” and says its function is to make explicit the subject of the two preceding verbs, “I will sing, I will make melody.” The phrase is probably a gloss, and translators who use notes may wish to indicate this in a note. In terms of Good News Translation language, the Hebrew Old Testament Text Project suggestion seems to be: I have complete confidence, O God! And so I myself(*) will sing and praise you. (*)This phrase, “And so I myself,” was probably added to the text to make it more emphatic; the original was “I will sing and praise you.”

Verses 2 and 3 are the same as 57.8b-9, except that LORD in verse 3a translates the divine name, while in 57.9 the title is used.

In verse 4a the Hebrew is “reaches above the heavens”; in 57.10 it is “reaches the heavens.” The difference should be reflected in translation. Here the text means that Yahweh’s love is so vast that the earth cannot contain it; he extends not only to heaven but goes beyond it.

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 .