Verse 1 in Hebrew is a complete chiasmus. The Hebrew word order in line a is a-b-c, and in line b the parallel equivalent words follow the order c-b-a. Chiasmus is used structurally sometimes as an opener and sometimes to relieve monotony. None of the translations consulted reverse the word order in the second line, as a grammatically awkward sentence would result. The translator should be aware that the psalmist is here using this device as the opener of the psalm, and should examine the use of chiasmus for similar or other reasons in the receptor language.
The heavens in line a is synonymous with the firmament in line b. No difference between the two is intended, since both of them are visible to humankind, revealing the glory of God, that is, his power, greatness, and majesty, which are manifest in the created universe (his handiwork). Most translations maintain the poetic force of the lines by using two terms. Of the translations consulted Bible en français courant is best: “The sky … the starry vault.”
The verb “to tell” (are telling) and its parallel proclaims poetically attribute human functions to the created universe, which makes known to all humankind God’s greatness.
The firmament was thought of as a solid plate (the Hebrew word derives from a verb meaning “to stamp, beat out”; see Job 37.18); this plate kept the waters above separated from the waters below (see Gen 1.6). Genesis 1.14-15, 17, 20 have the phrase “the firmament of the heavens.” New Jerusalem Bible and Dahood translate here “the heavens … the sky.” Whether the translator uses different terms for heavens and firmament or the same term for both, the intensification of line b may be kept by saying, for example, “more than this, the heavens speak out about God’s great works,” or both lines, “The sky shows us how wonderful God is; even more, it makes very clear to us the great things he has made.” If the translator follows Good News Translation, which uses exclamation marks, then in some languages the exclamatory force will have to be made by intensifying the verb phrase; for example, “The sky truly shows the glory of God” or, through the use of an imperative, “See how the sky shows that God is great!” In some languages it will be necessary to shift from inanimate subjects to people; for example, “When people look at the sky, they can clearly see how great God is; they can plainly see in the sky the great things he has made,” or by shifting to second person, “If you look up you can see how great God is; there you can see God’s great work.”
His handiwork (Hebrew “the work of his hands”) refers to God’s activity in creating the universe. Where it is possible to keep the imagery of God’s hands, it should be done. However, where such pictures are not possible, one may follow the direction taken by Good News Translation. Many languages distinguish between work done to form some object such as a pot or an arrow, and work which has a more general goal. In such languages the former usage would be appropriate here.
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 .