In this closing hymn of praise, Yahweh is praised as the one to whom the heavens belong; he alone is supreme in his realm, but he has entrusted the earth to humankind. In the Masoretic text verse 16a reads “the heavens (are) heavens of Yahweh”; the ancient versions translated “the heaven of the heavens,” that is, “the highest heavens,” which is probably what the Hebrew phrase means. Most translations have either “the heavens” or “heaven.” For comments on the Hebrew phrase the sons of men, meaning humankind, see 11.4, “children of men.”

For the idea in verse 17 that the dead do not or cannot praise Yahweh, see 6.5; 30.9; 88.10. Line b is strictly synonymous with line a and does not speak of a separate group, as Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible imply. Here Sheol, the world of the dead, is called “the land of silence” (Good News Translation; see 94.17 and comments). Verses 16-17 reflect the concept of the whole universe as consisting of heaven, the earth, and the underworld. In verse 17 the LORD translates the name Yah (see comments on 68.4).

In verse 18 Good News Translation, in order to make clear the contrast with The dead of verse 17, translates the pronoun we by “we, the living” (as is done in the Septuagint and Vulgate; so Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible); for bless meaning “give thanks,” see comments on 16.7.

For the concluding Praise the LORD, see 104.35.

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 .