In the hymn of praise (verses 12-22) the psalmist proclaims Yahweh’s power as king, a fact never to be forgotten. In verse 12a Good News Translation “are king” translates the verb “to sit”; as in 9.7 (which see), the idea may be “to remain, abide,” and that is how New American Bible translates it here. But it is better to understand it to mean “sit (on your throne as king),” that is, to be enthroned (Revised Standard Version).
In verse 12b name translates the Hebrew “memorial, remembrance,” as in 97.12 (see also 30.4); New English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible have here “fame.” Instead of the Masoretic text “your memorial,” some Hebrew manuscripts have “your throne” (as in Lam 5.19). The statement “your memorial (or, fame) (is) to generation and generation” means “your fame will last forever.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “all generations will speak of you” (similarly Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). Biblia Dios Habla Hoy is like Good News Translation: “your name will always be remembered.” All generations, as used in the Good News Translation sense, may be rendered “all people not yet born” or “everyone still to be born.”
The psalmist’s thoughts now turn to Jerusalem (Zion); she is destroyed (verse 14a) and in ruins (verse 14b), but the Israelites (thy servants) love her and have pity on her. In verse 13b-c time and appointed time are synonymous; the situation seems to be the Babylonian exile, and the expectation is that God will take the exiles back home. The words her stones and her dust indicate that Jerusalem has been destroyed, and so the psalmist affirms that now is the right time for Yahweh to act, for him to restore Jerusalem (see verse 16a). For arise, used of God, see 3.7; 7.6. For idiomatic translation suggestions concerning have pity, see 72.13.
Favor her in the expression it is the time to favor her means “to comfort, be kind, be merciful, to treat tenderly,” and in some languages it may be expressed, for example, “to cause her to be happy,” “to make her feel good,” or idiomatically sometimes, “to give her a cool heart.”
The translator will note how Good News Translation has restructured verse 14 by comparing it with Revised Standard Version. Stones and dust have been made into two concessive clauses related to “servants love” and “they have pity.” Some such restructuring as this is necessary if the reader is not to think of literal stones and dust.
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 .