In verse 9a the Hebrew noun translated redemption is used only here, in 130.7, and in Exodus 8.23 (8.19 in the Hebrew) and Isaiah 50.2. The reference is probably to the deliverance from Egypt. Although the noun can mean “payment,” it stands here for deliverance as such, without suggesting that Yahweh paid someone to set the people free.
In verse 9b the verb commanded with the object his covenant does not sound very natural; the line can be translated “he commanded that his covenant should last forever” (see New English Bible) or “he established his covenant forever” (see Biblia Dios Habla Hoy).
For name in verse 9c, see 5.11 and comments. Good News Translation “mighty” translates a verbal participle rendered “feared by all” by Good News Translation in 76.7; as observed elsewhere, terrible is not a good translation of this word. “Awesome” or even “fearful” (that is, that causes fear) is better.
In verse 10 the Hebrew noun translated the beginning is “head”; so it may mean here the start of wisdom or the most important part of wisdom (see New Jerusalem Bible footnote, Good News Translation footnote); New Jerusalem Bible has “The root of wisdom is fear of Yahweh,” and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “the greatest wisdom consists in honoring the Lord.” For comments on fear of the LORD, see 19.9; and for the whole maxim see Proverbs 1.7; 9.10; Job 28.28. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom must be recast in many languages so that someone is doing the “fear of the LORD.” For example, “When a person honors the LORD, that person is starting to be wise” or “The person who respects the LORD is beginning to be a wise person” (also see Good News Translation Pro 1.7).
In verse 10b all those who practice it translates the Masoretic text “all who do them” (plural, referring back to Yahweh’s “precepts” in verses 7-8); some ancient versions have “all who do it” (singular, referring to wisdom in the preceding line), and this is preferred by Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New English Bible, New American Bible (with textual footnotes), and by Revised Standard Version and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy (without footnotes). Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, however, says the plural form (which it prefers) does not refer back to the commands in verses 7-8, but “in a general way, the fear of the LORD with all its multiple aspects and commandments.” If the translator follows Good News Translation, it will be necessary in some languages to recast verse 10b to say, for example, “God enables people who obey his words to decide matters well.”
In verse 10c His praise means “The praise to be given Yahweh” (Yahweh is the receiver, not the doer, of the praise). Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “God will be praised always!” Good News Translation‘s “He is to be praised” must be recast in languages which do not use the passive; for example, “People should always praise God” or “People should always say that God is great.”
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 .