In verse 7 the two lines are synonymous; the dust in line a represents either poverty (as in line b) or defeat. The ash heap in line b translates the Hebrew “garbage dump.” At that time poor people would live near the town’s garbage dump, searching through the refuse for items of food and shelter (see Job 2.8). The synonymous verbs raises and lifts are used figuratively here, and the translator should look for an equivalent figure in the receptor language. If there is no meaningful figure to use, it may be necessary to shift to nonfigurative terms to avoid being taken in a purely literal sense; for example, the translator may have to say “He improves the lives of poor people.” This one line will stand for the original two lines, if the repetition must be avoided.

Verses 7-8a are the same as 1 Samuel 2.8a-c. In verse 8a to make them sit means that Yahweh gives these people the same honor and dignity that princes enjoy. Just as in verse 7, the translator will have to decide if the metaphor sit with princes or to be “companions of princes” carries the meaning of being honored and given dignity. In many languages “to be a companion of a prince” would be translated as “to be a friend of a chief’s son,” which may not be associated with honor and dignity. Accordingly the translator may have to use a nonfigure and say sometimes “he makes them to be honored by the people,” or “he causes the people to respect them,” or “he gives them the kind of honor people give their leaders.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy avoids the use of “princes” and says “important people”; similarly Bible en français courant “to place him in the highest rank, with the nobles of his people.” In verse 8b his people means Yahweh’s people.

Verse 9 describes Yahweh’s care for the barren woman, who in Hebrew society at that time was regarded as a failure and as one whom God was punishing; by giving children to her the LORD brought her happiness and honor in her family. Revised Standard Version‘s translation of line a can be misunderstood; He gives the barren woman a home implies that such a woman has no home to live in. But the point is that Yahweh gives her happiness in her home. New English Bible is a good translation: “who makes the woman in a childless home a happy mother of children.” In many languages a clear understanding of verse 9 depends on the way in which the relation between lines is stated. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy does this by placing the giving of a home at the end, that is, “to the woman who has not had children he gives the joy of being a mother and of having her own home.”

The psalm closes with the same call to praise, Praise the LORD with which it begins. Since this phrase usually occurs at the beginning and not the end of a psalm, some, following the Septuagint, place it at the beginning of the following psalm (New English Bible, New American Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible).

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 .