Verses 3-5 are difficult to understand.

Yea, he loved his people: this is the Septuagint; the Hebrew text has “the peoples.” New Revised Standard Version restructures and translates “Indeed, O favorite among peoples.” The Hebrew verb, a participle translated he loved, appears only here in the Old Testament. A possible alternative rendering is “Indeed [or, Truly], Yahweh loves his people the Israelites.”

All those consecrated to him: this means the people of Israel; they “belong to him” (Good News Translation); see 7.6; 14.2, 21.

In his hand: the Hebrew text has “your hand,” which Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers ({A} rating). The personal pronouns and adjectives should be used consistently of God and the people of Israel in such a way that the readers will know who is being referred to in each instance. This is a translational problem, not a textual one. The phrase in his hand means that the LORD “protects his people” (Contemporary English Version, see Good News Translation), he guards them, keeps them safe.

They followed in thy steps: the Hebrew verb, as Mayes says, “is quite unknown.” Mayes recommends joining two Hebrew words of the Hebrew text into one (a verb attested also in Job 24.24; Psa 106.43; Eccl 10.18), meaning “be low.” The meaning then will be “and they prostrated themselves,” which is what Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New International Version, and New Jerusalem Bible have. It is recommended that translators take this approach. Other possible models are “So they bow at his feet,” or “… prostrate themselves before him,” or even “worship at his feet” (Contemporary English Version).

Receiving direction from thee: this refers to the laws that God gave his people; New International Version translates “instruction.” Revised English Bible translates the whole line “They sit at his feet and receive his instructions.” This is a possibility.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .