Verses 5-6 are a rhetorical question, Who is like…? (Revised Standard Version), which Good News Translation represents in the form of a statement, “There is no one like….” If the translator chooses to use rhetorical questions (as Revised Standard Version does), it should be kept in mind that who … who in verses 5b, 6a are relative pronouns and are not the same as the interrogative pronoun in verse 5a. The expression the LORD our God must often be recast to say “the LORD, who is the God we worship.” In verse 5b “lives” translates the verb “to sit” (see Revised Standard Version); here perhaps the better translation is “he is enthroned” or “he reigns” (see New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, Dahood).

In an unusual figure the psalmist declares in verse 6 that Yahweh is so high above all creation that he must bend down in order to see the heavens and the earth. This not only locates his dwelling as being in the heights above, but emphasizes his care for the universe (verses 7-9 give specific examples of his mercy and help); see also 138.6 for similar language. The verb in line a is better translated “bends down” or “stoops down” (see New Jerusalem Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Good News Translation, New International Version) than Revised Standard Version looks far down. Dahood, however, translates in verse 6 “stoops to look from heaven to earth,” that is, locating Yahweh in heaven, not above the heavens. It seems better to follow Good News Translation.

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 .