In verse 7b the same phrase “a city of dwelling” is used, as in verse 4b. Those who translate it here, as there, “an inhabited city,” see this primarily as a reference to Canaan, with its towns and cities, after the years of wandering in the wilderness (see New Jerusalem Bible). In verse 7a the meaning can be expressed by “He led them directly” or “He led them on a road that went straight to….”

Verse 8 is repeated in exactly the same words in verses 15, 21, and 31. It is a command expressed in the third person form. The wonderful works of Yahweh are the mighty deeds, the miracles through which Yahweh saved them (see 9.1 for comments on the root verb). The Hebrew phrase the sons of men usually means all of humankind (see 11.4), so here the meaning may be quite general, “what Yahweh does for people”; or it may refer specifically to the people who are the subject of this strophe (so Kirkpatrick; see Anderson). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “Now you must thank the Lord for his benefits, praise him for your wonderful deliverance.”

In verse 9 him who is thirsty translates “the longing nefesh,” which New Jerusalem Bible takes to mean “hungry”; most take it to mean thirsty. The hungry in verse 9b translates “the hungry nefesh.” Instead of the singular “the one who is thirsty and the one who is hungry,” Good News Translation has used the plural forms, “those who are thirsty … the hungry,” to avoid the possibility of misunderstanding the text to refer to one person. Good things here means food. In some languages it will be necessary to be more specific in both verse 9a and 9b; for example, “he gives water to those who are thirsty and food to the hungry.”

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 .