The pilgrims are exhorted to go through “the Temple gates” into the Temple courts with songs of thanksgiving and praise. In languages where the expressions gates and courts are difficult to represent, it will be possible to say, for example, “Enter his Temple…” and “enter the inside.” It may be necessary in some languages to adjust with thanksgiving and with praise by saying, “be thankful” and “praise God.” In verse 4c Good News Translation “praise him” translates bless his name (for bless see 16.7, and for name see 5.11).

The reason for praising Yahweh is given in the concluding verse. Again the two words are used which most aptly describe Yahweh’s relation with his people: his steadfast love and his faithfulness (for chesed see 5.7; for ʾemunah see 36.5). In some languages it will be necessary to recast his steadfast love and his faithfulness as clauses; for example, “he loves his people for ever and is faithful to them for ever.”

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 .