In verse 30a the Hebrew for Posterity is simply “seed, generation”; but one Hebrew manuscript and the Septuagint have “my seed”; so New English Bible, New American Bible, Jerusalem Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy. In some languages Posterity or “Future generations” may be rendered “people who are not yet born.”

In this verse Lord is the title (see comment at 8.1), not the proper name Yahweh.

The coming generation (verse 30b) involves a slight change in the text. The Masoretic text has “to the generation 31 they will come”; instead of the Masoretic text “they will come,” Good News Translation follows the Septuagint, which indicates “coming” as part of verse 30.

In verse 31 the word which Revised Standard Version has translated deliverance and Good News Translation “saved” is taken here by Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible to mean “justice, righteousness”; the interpretation of Revised Standard Version seems preferable in this context. Care should be taken in line a not to appear to say that some people, before they are born, will be told of how Yahweh saved his people. Something like the following may be said: “In the future, people who at this time have not even been born will be told….” In languages where passive constructions are rare or not used, one may say, for example, “people will tell others who have not yet come into the world, ‘The Lord saved his people.’ ”

That he has wrought it: the psalm ends with the declaration “that (or, because) he acted” (that is, he intervened and saved his people). Good News Translation puts this into direct discourse, “The Lord saved his people.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “they will tell of his justice and of his deeds.”

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 .