These verses describe the condition of the Hebrews during the patriarchal age, When they were few in number and had no settled residence in Canaan (verse 12), but wandered from place to place (see Gen 12–35). Revised Standard Version of little account (verse 12b) seems not quite accurate for the Hebrew, which means “only a few (in number)”; New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible have “a handful”; New International Version “few indeed”; Dahood, “a mere handful”; see also New English Bible and Bible en français courant, and see the same Hebrew phrase in Genesis 34.30. In verse 12b sojourners is better represented by “temporary residents” or “resident aliens” than by Good News Translation “strangers”; see Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “a handful of immigrants.” In some language areas there are known groups of nomadic wanderers who may come and go according to the seasons, and terms for such groups may be applicable to these sojourners.

Verse 13 describes the situation of the Hebrews nomads, wandering from place to place. Verses 14-15 seem to refer to the incidents with the king of Egypt (Gen 12.17) and with Abimelech, king of Gerar (Gen 20.1-8), both involving Sarah, Abraham’s wife; but here these incidents are made more general. As may be seen from the reading of the two passages, the meaning of he rebuked kings on their account in verse 14b is that God warned foreign kings not to harm his servants. On their account can be represented by “on their behalf” or “in order to defend them.” The Good News Translation phrase in verse 15a “my chosen servants” is literally my anointed ones (see discussion at 2.2). Only here and in the parallel 1 Chronicles 16.22 is the plural of this word used in the Old Testament. Here it refers to the patriarchs, as does my prophets. My prophets is used in the general sense of people who speak for God, and not in the specific sense of the great figures in Israel’s history usually called the prophets. Abraham is called a prophet in Genesis 20.7.

Translators in languages deeply influenced by Islam will recognize that many of their readers will know that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are referred to as ambiyaʾ “prophets” in the Koran. The task of the translator is to determine the popular meaning of the Arabic words rasuul and nabi, if these are used. In some cases it is best to avoid terms of Koranic origin and to employ descriptive phrases.

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 .