The verb translated Tremble may mean “dance” (as in 87.7; New English Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible); most, however, take it to represent fright, not joy. In both lines of verse 7 the Hebrew says the presence of, which Good News Translation has represented in two different ways. It should be noticed that in line a the Hebrew has the title “Lord” (Good News Translation), not the divine name (Revised Standard Version LORD). Of Jacob may stand for the patriarch himself, or else for the people of Israel as a whole (see 20.1; 46.7, 11; 75.9; 76.6; and others). In this context the former is preferable. In languages in which the earth cannot be told to tremble, it may be possible to switch to a statement, that is, “when the God whom Jacob worshiped is near, the earth trembles.”

In verse 8b Good News Translation “solid cliffs” translates the Hebrew word for flint (which occurs only in four other places in the Old Testament); as a parallel for “rocks” in line a, however, the flint (Revised Standard Version) is not appropriate in the context. In this verse the psalmist is alluding to the events at Kadesh (Exo 17.1-7; Num 20.1-13; see also Psa 78.13-16, 20). Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant, Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible use the present tense for the verb in verse 8, as a description of Yahweh’s power; New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy use the past tense as a statement of what Yahweh had actually done, and this may be more appropriate. Verse 8 should be accompanied by a cross reference to assist the reader in understanding the allusion.

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 .