The psalm ends with the reason for the praise that all creation is commanded to offer Yahweh: he is supreme over all creation and is the protector of his people. In verse 13a-b the psalmist uses the phrase “the name of Yahweh” to represent Yahweh himself, whose greatness is unique; no other being, no other god, is as great as Yahweh. Praise the name of the LORD may also be rendered “Praise the LORD.” In line b Yahweh’s name is “high above all others,” or literally, “his name is exalted uniquely (or, by itself)” (New English Bible), that is, his rank, his title, is greater than that of any other being. “His name is greater” may be rendered as “He is greater….” His glory in verse 13c represents his power, his majesty, which is greater than that of all beings in the universe (above earth and heaven). His glory is above earth and heaven may have to be recast in some languages to say, for example, “He is more powerful than anything on earth or in heaven.”
For the figure He has raised up a horn for his people in verse 14a, see 18.2; 75.4; 89.17, 24. The meaning is “He has made his people strong.” Good News Translation‘s “his nation” in “He has made his nation strong” refers to God’s people. In verse 14b praise for all his saints does not mean that the saints are to be praised but that Yahweh is the one his people praise; so Good News Translation “so that all his people praise him.” It is possible, however, that the word translated praise means here “honor, glory,” so that it is the people who receive glory or honor. So New Jerusalem Bible has “for the glory of all His faithful ones,” and Bible en français courant “It’s a title of glory for his faithful ones.” For chasid “pious, faithful,” see comments on “the godly” in 4.3. If the translator follows Good News Translation, line b may be taken as a consequence of line a and rendered “He has made his people strong; therefore they praise him.” In verse 14c the people of Israel is a synonym of his saints in the preceding line. The Hebrew of verse 14c is “for the sons of Israel, the people near to him.” Here near does not mean physical but emotional closeness; they are loved by him. New International Version has “close to his heart.” (See the idiom “near and dear” in English.) It may be best in some languages to avoid the apposition which is line c and say “therefore the people of Israel, whom he loves, praise him.”
The psalm closes as it begins: 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 .