The psalmist now describes Yahweh’s provision for the needs of plants and animals. In verse 16 Good News Translation has reversed the lines in order to make easier the identification of “the LORD’s own trees” as the cedars of Lebanon (for which see 29.5). Some take the Hebrew “the trees of Yahweh” to mean “gigantic trees” (as “mountains of God” in 36.6 is interpreted). The verb in verse 16a is simply “are satisfied” (as in verse 13b), which is taken by most to refer to plentiful rain; but New English Bible has “are green and leafy.” New Jerusalem Bible and New Jerusalem Bible translate “drink their fill.”

Verse 16b picks up the subject from verse 16a and identifies it further. In many languages this technique requires a different kind of structure from that found in English. It is often possible to say, for example, “The cedars of Lebanon are the LORD’s own trees, which he planted; these trees get plenty of rain.”

There are differences of opinion about the trees in verse 17b; some think they are junipers (New Jerusalem Bible, Dahood), others, cypresses (Bible en français courant, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) or pines (New International Version). Some (Weiser, New English Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy) emend the Hebrew text to get “on top of them” (that is, on top of the cedars of Lebanon of verse 16).16-18 Hebrew Old Testament Text Project (“C” decision) favors the emendation “on their top,” in justification of which it refers to Factors 8 (“Misunderstanding of linguistic data”) and 9 (“Misunderstanding of historical data”).

Further information on the animals includes the following: Hebrew tsippor may mean “sparrow”; however, there are numerous varieties of this small bird, which belongs to the weaverbird family. The translator may use the term for the common house or English sparrow. Although this bird is found across the world, it is largely restricted to the temperate zones. Where the sparrow is not known, a commonly known local bird which nests where people live may be used. It is always possible to use the generic term for birds (see Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation). In areas where some variety of the stork is not found, the translator may use another long-legged, long-necked bird, preferably one that nests in twig platforms built at the tops of trees, on rock ledges, or on roof tops. In many language areas the wild goat will not be familiar, and a substitute animal may not be available. In such cases it may be necessary to borrow the term from another language and to provide an illustration. It should be noted that badgers, or even “rock badgers” (New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Translation, New English Bible), is not quite accurate, since the badger is a carnivorous, burrowing animal; the more accurate name in English is “hyrax,” a herbivorous animal, that does not burrow; it lives in colonies in rocky regions (see Pro 30.26). The translation adaptation made for wild goat also applies to badgers.

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 .