In these verses the psalmist praises Jerusalem. It is to be noticed that in verses 3-5 Jerusalem is referred to in the third person; in verses 7-9 it is addressed in the second person. If the change from third to second person is likely to cause confusion, it may be best to use the second person throughout (see Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).
The Hebrew verb in verse 3a can mean “to build” or “to rebuild”; most translations take it to mean “built” or “built up,” without any reference to its restoration (see Anderson, Taylor). Good News Translation and Bible de Jérusalem have the idea of “rebuilt” (see Briggs, Kirkpatrick). In verse 3b which is bound firmly together translates what seems to say “which is joined to itself together.” The idea is that of the city built (or, rebuilt) firmly and compactly (see New American Bible “with compact unity”; New Jerusalem Bible “one united whole”; New Jerusalem Bible “knit together”). But some, following in part the meaning found in some of the versions, take the words to refer to the people; so New English Bible “where people come together in unity” (also Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Taylor). Traduction œcuménique de la Bible translates “a city with only one defender” (Yahweh, that is). Bible en français courant has “securely surrounded by its walls.” Translators may find Good News Translation‘s rendering a difficult model due to the abstractness of “beautiful order and harmony.” If it refers to the people, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy offers this: “Jerusalem, the city built so that the community can gather together in it.”
In verse 4a-b the subject is repeated, the tribes … the tribes of the LORD; if the repetition is not effective, this can be reduced to one subject, “the tribes of the LORD.” Here LORD translates Yah (see 68.4 and comments). Good News Translation “tribes of Israel” should not be imitated; something like “the tribes that belong to (or, worship) the LORD” would be better. If the word for tribes is used in verse 4, it will be taken in many languages to mean that Israel is made up of different ethnic groups speaking different languages. Since the reference is to the people of Israel, it may be best to use a term denoting clans or some other subdivision within a tribe, such as “families.” Or else one may say “all the people who belong to (or, worship) the LORD.” If tribes of the LORD is used, it may be necessary to recast this as “the clans that belong to the LORD.” In verse 4c as was decreed for Israel translates “a law for Israel.” The Qumran manuscript has “the community of Israel,” which in the context seems to make more sense; but the translations follow the Masoretic text. Good News Translation‘s “according to his command” may have to be recast to say “in the way he has told the people to do.” See Deuteronomy 16.16-17 for the law requiring people to go to the Temple. To give thanks to the name of the LORD means to praise the LORD.
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 .