The initial word Yet serves to remind Yahweh, so to speak, that his silence, his failure to help the psalmist, is not consistent with his past actions on behalf of his people; or it may be the psalmist’s way of reassuring himself: since Yahweh had helped in the past, he will do so now.
Even in his deepest despair the psalmist still trusts in God, the one who in the past has saved the people of Israel. Verse 3 is literally “But you are the Holy One sitting upon the praises of Israel,” which is variously understood. As “the Holy One” God is the transcendent God, above and beyond his people, yet not indifferent to them, for he calls them to be his own people, completely dedicated to him; and so they also become holy in his sight. Thou art holy is often difficult in translation, since there are a number of things in the Scriptures which are called holy, and often the reference to God’s holiness must be rendered in a different way. Places and objects which are said to be holy normally have reference to their quality of being set aside for special religious use. However, it is not possible to speak of God’s holiness in a similar manner. It is possible to speak of God’s holiness in reference to worship, and therefore to say, for example, “you are worthy of our worship,” “you are the one people pray to,” or “you are God and we bow in prayer to you.”
Yahweh’s throne in the Temple was thought of as the winged creatures, above the Covenant Box (see 80.1), and the prayers and praise of the people were directed toward it. In a figurative sense, therefore, Yahweh was enthroned on the praises of Israel. Thus “the praises of Israel are your throne”; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “You reign, praised by Israel.” New American Bible, following some manuscripts of the Septuagint, translates “You are enthroned in the holy place.” Dahood has “While you sit upon the holy throne, the Glory of Israel.”
Enthroned on the praises of Israel is highly lyrical but will be meaningless if translated literally in many languages. The restructuring of Good News Translation is suggestive; however, in many languages it will be necessary to be more explicit than Good News Translation and to say, for example, “you sit on your throne as king, and are the one whom the people of Israel pray to” or “you rule from the king’s chair, and you are (the) God whom your people worship.”
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 .