The LORD’s sovereignty in the affairs of humankind is now stressed. He prevents people from carrying out their counsel and their plans–it being understood, of course, that these are contrary to his will. The two verbs in verse 10 are synonymous, and the two nouns are also synonymous: “plans, projects, purposes, goals.” Nations has the specific sense of “pagan nations.” Brings … to nought may sometimes be rendered “causes to fail” or “does not allow to succeed.” The counsel of the nations may sometimes be rendered “what the nations decide to do” or “the decisions of the tribes.” Verse 10a may then be rendered in some languages “The LORD causes the nations to fail in the things they decide to do” or “The LORD does not allow the nations to succeed in their decisions.”

But Yahweh’s plans are immutable, not subject to change or to interference. In verse 11b the noun in Hebrew for thoughts is the same as the noun for plans in verse 10b, but “of his heart” is added; so Revised Standard Version the thoughts of his heart. Such a literal translation of the Hebrew is not necessary (see modern dynamic equivalence translations).

In verses 10-11 the second line shows heightening of intensity rather than being statically synonymous. The general expressions in the first lines, brings … to naught and counsel of the LORD, are intensified in the second lines through frustrates and the thoughts of his heart. In translation the development in intensity can often be made explicit; for example, “not only that, but also frustrates the plans….” Also in verse 11, “more than that, the thoughts of his heart last forever.”

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 .