The psalm closes (verses 27-31) with a proclamation of the universal reign of Yahweh in the future.

New English Bible, Bible en français courant, and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy translate verse 27 as a command (or a prayer): “Let all nations….”

The two phrases All the ends of the earth and all the families of the nations are used synonymously, meaning “all nations, all races”; families is used here in the broad sense of tribe or race. In some languages All the ends of the earth may be rendered “all the tribes of the world.”

The verbs remember, turn to, and worship express the actions of repentance and adoration, in which “to remember” means to call Yahweh to mind, to acknowledge him, in acts of confession and praise (see 6.5). If one uses Good News Translation, to “remember the LORD” may have little meaning in some languages, or may merely mean that those who have forgotten him will recall him. For this reason it will sometimes be preferable to translate this expression “remember to praise the LORD.” The expression families of the nations, if translated literally, will have little meaning in some languages, and the Good News Translation term “races” must often be translated “tribes” or “clans.”

At the end of verse 27, the Masoretic text has “before you”; Revised Standard Version justifies the change to the third person him on the basis of ancient versions; but the change of pronouns in Hebrew is quite frequent, and no textual variant need be sought to justify translating him (see Anderson; and notice verse 25, where “from you” in line a is followed by “him” in line b–both referring to Yahweh).

It is well to follow Revised Standard Version at the beginning of verse 28 and say For or “Because” as the reason why in the future all people will worship Yahweh. Dominion belongs to the LORD is better translated “The LORD is ruler” or, as some translations have it, “Kingly power belongs to the LORD.” Bible en français courant and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy are like Good News Translation.

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 .