In verses 8-12 the psalmist chooses three events from Israel’s history to illustrate the unlimited power of Yahweh: the plagues which were sent on Egypt (verse 8-9), the defeat of kings (verses 10-11), and the conquest of the land of Canaan (verse 12).

For the death of the first-born of Egypt, human and animal, see 78.51; 105.36; and for the other signs and wonders, that is, the plagues, see 78.42-49; 105.27-35. It may be helpful in some translations to specify that only the Egyptians suffered the loss of their first-born sons (and of their domestic animals).

It is to be noticed that in verse 9 the Hebrew text has “in your midst, Egypt,” changing from the third person in verse 8 to the second person of direct address, which seems to emphasize the importance of Egypt. The majority of translations preserve this form, but there is no need to do so (see New Jerusalem Bible text “against Egypt”; see Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible). Pharaoh is not a proper name but a title, like “Czar” or “Augustus.” Pharaoh’s servants are the court officials (see New Jerusalem Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy); New English Bible, however, has “his subjects.”

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 .