The people are exhorted to praise the LORD; they are called righteous and upright (see 31.11). As in 31.11, Good News Translation “for what the LORD” translates in the LORD in verse 1a.
In consequence of this it is only right for the people to praise him (verse 1b); in the now quaint language of King James Version, “praise is comely for the upright” (see Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, “praise is lovely on the lips of good people”). The sense of befits can be expressed by “it is right (or, fitting) that those who obey the LORD should praise him.”
Instruments were used in public worship, and in verse 2 two stringed instruments are named: the smaller one, the kinnor, with two to four strings, and the larger ten-stringed instrument, the nebel. Translations vary; lyre and harp are the two words most often used in English (New English Bible has “ten-stringed lute” for the second one).
Praise the LORD with the lyre contains two major translation problems. The first is that in many languages the phrase with the lyre must be recast as a verb phrase or clause; for example, “praise the LORD by playing music on the lyre” or “make music with the lyre, and praise the LORD.” The second problem, which applies also to verse 2b, is the term to be used in the translation of the musical instrument. In languages in which there are several stringed instruments, the translator may use one of the smaller ones for the lyre (kinnor) and a larger one for the second instrument (nebel). In languages where there is little or no choice, one must use the known local stringed instrument for the first, and a more generic expression for the second, which may mean simply the plural of the instrument used in verse 2a. Where there are no known stringed instruments, it will often be necessary to say, for example, “small instruments with strings” and “large instruments with strings.”
A new song (also 40.3; 96.1; 98.1; 144.9; 149.1; see also Rev 5.9) is a new composition celebrating the LORD’s never-failing goodness. Sing … a new song should not be translated as simply “Sing a different song” or “Sing a song again.” Where the word new carries the meanings of “for the first time” and also “again” and “different,” it will often be necessary to say, for example, “Sing a new song which the people have not yet heard.”
In verse 3b the Hebrew text says only “play skillfully with a loud noise.” The “loud noise” could be of the instrument itself or, more probably, of the accompanying shouts of praise; and the instrument is not named. Revised Standard Version supplies on the strings, and Good News Translation “the harp.” One can say “Play your instruments skillfully….”
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 .