The statement which introduces the direct discourse should indicate clearly that David is speaking about Jesus. In some languages the proper name must be introduced. I saw is translated by some translations “I foresaw”; but it is best to take the form of the verb in the sense of “to see (in front of oneself)” rather than “to see beforehand.”

The term for Lord must, of course, be the regular expression used in speaking of Jesus as Lord, for this is the contextual setting of this New Testament usage.

There is a problem in some languages in the shift of figurative usage in before me and by my right side, for people argue that he cannot be in two places at the same time. However, since by my right side refers primarily to a position taken by one who wishes to help and sustain another, it is entirely appropriate that this be rendered as “with me.” This makes it possible to preserve the sense of location without introducing seemingly contradictory expressions.

The clause so that I will not be troubled may be shifted into the active form as “so that people will not trouble me” or “so that people will not be able to trouble me” (some languages require the indication of potentiality in such a result clause projected into the future).

In most languages one can speak of an organ such as the heart (though the equivalent may be “liver,” “kidneys,” or “stomach”) as being “glad.” In fact, there may be a regular idiom for such an emotion, for example, “my heart is warm,” “my heart dances,” or “my heart is cool”; but in some languages only a “person can be glad in his heart.” Under such circumstances, the translation needs to be appropriately adapted.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .