In verse 155 the psalmist refers to his enemies as the wicked (see verses 53a, 95a); the statement that Salvation is far from them means that they have little if any chance at all of being rescued from their troubles by Yahweh. For seek thy statutes in verse 155b, see verses 45b, 94b. Salvation is far from the wicked has been restructured by Good News Translation as a sentence with a passive verb, “will not be saved.” If the translator follows this model, it may be necessary to use an active verb and say, for example, “God, you will not save wicked people.”

In the first part of verse 156, the psalmist praises Yahweh’s mercy (kindness, compassion; Bible en français courant “You have a heart full of love”).

The second part of verse 156 is similar to verses 40b, 107b, which see. Here the Masoretic text has the plural of mishpat (so Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant, New International Version), but a few Hebrew manuscripts and the Septuagint have the singular (which is followed by Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). For according to thy justice see verse 149b for the same phrase.

In verse 157 the psalmist complains once more about his many enemies; despite all of them, he does not swerve from Yahweh’s testimonies. For similar language see “turn aside from” in verse 102a; “forsaken,” verse 87b; “stray from,” verse 110b.

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 .