The parallel arrangement in this verse is the so-called “staircase” form, in which the statement in line a is incomplete (the verb Ascribe requires a direct object), and the statement is made complete in line b, where the direct object glory and strength is supplied.

The petition in this verse is literally “Give … glory and power to Yahweh,” which means to offer him praise or honor for the glory and power he possesses. So Good News Translation and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “Praise”; Bible en français courant has “Come honor the Lord.” Revised Standard Version‘s Ascribe is no longer common English and makes for a difficult text. The verb “to ascribe” means to assign a quality or attribute to someone, that is, to affirm that that person possesses such a quality or attribute. It does not mean to confer such an attribute on someone, but to acknowledge it. In terms of God it means to proclaim that God possesses these qualities, and to praise him for having them.

Heavenly beings translates the Hebrew phrase “sons of gods,” which may be understood either as the gods of the other nations or as angels (Briggs, New Jerusalem Bible footnote), or even as the stars (see Anderson). The Septuagint has “Sons of god,” and so do Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible; Weiser “sons of gods”; Bible en français courant “heavenly powers”; New Jerusalem Bible, Zürcher Bibel, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “divine beings”; Dahood, New English Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “gods.” In the translation of heavenly beings translators normally have two areas of choice: either they can follow one of the suggested interpretations such as angels or stars, or they can seek to use a generic term. In some languages the term “spirits” will provide the only reasonable alternative. However, spirits are thought of as dwelling in nature and not being heavenly. In some languages the term for “powers” may be used.

Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength often requires recasting beyond that which Good News Translation uses, for one must often translate glory as being the content of the praise; for example, “say that God is powerful and glorious” or “say that God is wonderful and has great power.”

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 .