In verses 26-36 the psalmist recounts the plagues that Moses and Aaron inflicted on the Egyptians (Exo 7–12); see the similar account in Psalm 78.44-51.

In verse 26 it may be well to introduce “Egypt” as the place to which Yahweh sent Moses and Aaron, as follows:

• Then the LORD sent to Egypt his servant Moses,
together with Aaron, whom he had chosen.

The meaning of verse 27a is disputed. An American Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, New International Version, Weiser are like Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. The Hebrew phrase translated “God’s mighty acts” (Good News Translation) and his signs (Revised Standard Version) is literally “words (or, matters) of his signs,” which is taken by some to be the predictions of Moses and Aaron concerning the plagues (New English Bible “They were his mouthpiece to announce his signs”); by others it is taken to refer to God’s commands to Moses and Aaron for them to inflict the plagues (Bible de Jérusalem “they performed among them the plagues he had spoken of”; Bible en français courant “Among the Egyptians the two performed the prodigies that God had commanded them to do”; see New Jerusalem Bible). Traduction œcuménique de la Bible translates “Their command brought down signs on Egypt.” The Hebrew phrase is unusual, but see the similar phrase in 143.5b, literally “the words of your wonderful deeds.” It appears that the rendering of Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation is defensible.

The verb in verse 27a in Hebrew is plural “They did”; the Septuagint and Syriac have the singular “He did,” a reference to God (so Briggs, Weiser); most follow the Masoretic text. For land of Ham in verse 27b, see verse 23.

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 .