Above the furious storm Yahweh sits enthroned over the flood … as king for ever. It seems probable (Toombs, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Bible en français courant) that the word “flood” here refers to the waters above the sky (Gen 1.6-7; Psa 104.3; 148.4). Some, however, see here a reference to the flood of Genesis 7–8, for which the same Hebrew word is used (and the Septuagint translation here seems to support that interpretation. So New Jerusalem Bible “The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood”; Dahood “Yahweh has sat enthroned from the flood”; also Weiser, Briggs, Kirkpatrick, Bible de Jérusalem, and New Jerusalem Bible). If the translator follows the Revised Standard Version and the more literal rendering of the Hebrew, he may say, for example, “The LORD sits like a chief on his stool commanding the seas.” If such a picture strains the poetic imagination, one may follow Good News Translation. However in some languages it is not possible to rule over water. Hence in such cases one may say “The LORD commands everything, even the seas.” If the translator follows the reference to the flood, it may be possible to say “The LORD sat on his throne at the flood.”

The LORD sits enthroned as king for ever may require some recasting as in Good News Translation, or in some cases the symbolic language may be retained; for example, “The LORD sits on his royal stool, and he is chief of all peoples forever.”

Verse 11 may be taken as a petition (Weiser, Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant) or as a statement (Briggs, Good News Translation, New English Bible, New International Version, Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible, An American Translation, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy).

Strength is not bodily strength but the strength of the nation, prosperous and able to defend itself from its enemies. Strength must often be recast as a verb; for example, “The LORD strengthens his people,” or as a causative, “The LORD makes his people powerful.”

Peace stands not just for cessation of hostilities, but for well-being, prosperity, happiness, success.

Bless his people with peace may sometimes be translated “May the LORD give good things to his people and make them joyful.”

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 .