As noted in the introduction to this chapter, interpreters divide the sections differently. Revised Standard Version, for example, begins a new section with verse 32, while Good News Translation begins a new section with verse 31.
In some languages the expression This God will only serve to distinguish a near God from one that is further away. In order to avoid such ambiguity of reference, it will often be necessary to render This God as “The God whom I worship,” or shift to the possessive, “Our God.” Some translations (for example, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Bible en français courant, Revised English Bible) disregard the unusual Hebrew construction (literally “The God,” which is used only here, in verse 33, and in the parallel in Psa 18) and have simply “The way of God is perfect” or something like it. Others prefer to translate “As for God…” (New International Version and Goldman). If the entire psalm is translated in the second person singular, this will have to be rendered “As for you, O God….”
God’s way is either his own conduct or else the way he sets forth for his people. Here it seems to refer to God’s conduct.
Perfect: see the comments on “blameless” in verses 24 and 26, where the same Hebrew word is found. But note that the word is used here to qualify the noun way rather than a person. The idea of perfection is extremely difficult to express in certain languages. In some cases it can only be expressed in negative terms such as “having no fault” or “without defect.” The concept is also used in the New Testament (for example, Matt 5.48; Rom 12.2; Heb 5.9; 9.11). The whole phrase, his way is perfect, will in other cases require restructuring in the form “he does everything just right.”
Proves true translates the verb “to refine” or “test,” as it is translated in Judges 7.4. The idea here is that of being completely free of flaw or impurity, and therefore completely trustworthy and dependable. It is very similar in meaning to perfect. The promise of the LORD proves true must often be rendered “you can always depend on the LORD’s words” or “you can always believe what the LORD says.” Others may say “The LORD always accomplishes what he says he will do.”
For a discussion of shield see verse 3 above, as well as 1.21 and 1 Sam 17.7, 41. If the shield or equivalent protective device is unknown, it is often necessary to employ a descriptive phrase; for example, “he is like a covering that protects people,” or simply avoid the figure of speech and say “he is the place where people go to for protection” or “he is the one to whom people escape for safety.”
All those who take refuge in him: see the comments on verse 3 regarding the word refuge. This expression refers to all the people who look to the LORD for protection. The same verb appears in Ruth 2.12, where Ruth sought the protection of God.
The rhetorical question in verse 32 is a way of making a strong affirmation: “No one else but Yahweh is God; no one except our God is a rock.” For rock see the comment in verse 3 above. In many instances our God will have to be translated “the God we worship” or “God, whom we worship.”
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .