Yahweh’s power is shown in his control of the stars (verse 4), his wisdom (verse 5), his care for the oppressed, and his destruction of the wicked (verse 6).

In verse 4a the Hebrew verb means either “to count” or “to number”; it is possible to take the line to mean that Yahweh knows how many stars there are (so Anderson). It seems more likely, however, that the meaning, as Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and others (An American Translation, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy) have it, is that Yahweh decided how many stars there would be, which is a way of saying that he created them all (see Cohen, Dahood). “He has decided the number of the stars” can mean in some languages that he was for some time in doubt how many there were and then concluded that there was a certain number of them. For this reason it may be best to translate “When he created the stars, he decided how many there would be.” In line b the Hebrew may mean “he gave to all of them their names,” which fits in well with the preceding line (so New Jerusalem Bible, Revised Standard Version, Bible en français courant, New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Dahood), or “he calls them all by their names,” that is, they are subject to his power and obey his commands (so Good News Translation, New American Bible, New International Version, Bible de Jérusalem; see Cohen; see Isa 40.26).

Verse 6 tells how Yahweh deals with the downtrodden, that is, the humble (or, needy) and the wicked. For translation suggestions on the downtrodden, see comments on “the afflicted” in 9.12 and on “humble” in 14.6. The verb in line a (Revised Standard Version lifts up) is the same that in 146.9b Revised Standard Version translates “upholds.” In both places New Jerusalem Bible has “gives courage to.” In contrast with the verb in line b, it seems best to translate here “raises” or “gives power to,” and not merely “sustains” or “encourages.” Bible en français courant has “helps them get up.”

In verse 6b, instead of ground, something like “the dust” (New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible) may be preferable. It is a picture of complete humiliation and defeat; see Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “he completely humiliates the wicked,” or we may say, for example, “he grinds the wicked into the ground.”

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 .