Good News Translation has reversed verses 5 and 6 for greater ease of understanding, and these comments will follow the order of Good News Translation.

In verse 6 the Israelites are called offspring (literally “seed”) of Abraham and sons of Jacob. For “seed” see 18.50. Following Jacob, the Masoretic text has his chosen ones (so Revised Standard Version); it seems better, however, to prefer two Hebrew manuscripts and the Qumran manuscript, which have the singular “his chosen one” (that is, Jacob), which better parallels his servant in the preceding line (so Good News Translation, Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible). Most translations, however, follow the Masoretic text.5-6 Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers the Masoretic text. The address form O offspring and sons of Jacob may have to be recast in some languages to say, for example, “Listen, you descendants of Abraham, who was God’s servant” and “Listen, you descendants of Jacob, the man God chose.” Another restructuring is possible: “Abraham was God’s servant, so listen, you who are his descendants” and “Jacob is the man God chose, so listen, you who are his descendants.” If necessary it may be possible to combine the two vocative expressions; for example, “Abraham was God’s servant, and Jacob was the one God chose. So listen, you who are their descendants.”

In verse 5a Remember may be better translated “Commemorate” or “Celebrate” (see Briggs).

In speaking of what Yahweh has done, the Hebrew uses two synonymous terms: wonderful works (as in verse 2) and miracles (see verse 27b and 78.43b). Good News Translation has combined the two into one, “the miracles”; perhaps “the great miracles” is better; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “his great and marvelous deeds.” Judgments probably refers to God’s condemnation of Israel’s oppressors, not to the laws and commandments given at Sinai (see Anderson). The expression the judgments he uttered may have to be recast in some languages as a clause, in which case it may be necessary to make explicit the goal of the judgment; for example, “remember … how he judged our enemies.”

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 .