Verse 27 describes the reaction of the psalmist’s friends, who want to see him declared innocent (my vindication–see verse 24).

In verse 27e welfare translates the Hebrew shalom (see comment on “peace” in 29.11); New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy have “well-being”; New American Bible “prosperity.” His servant is the psalmist himself.

Who delights in the welfare of his servant is an expression which poses two major translation problems. The first refers to the translation of the Hebrew word translated welfare by Revised Standard Version and “success” by Good News Translation. In many languages this broad concept of well-being and material prosperity can only be summed up in metaphorical terminology; for example, “God delights when people’s hearts sit in cool shade” or “God is happy when people’s hearts are singing.” In the absence of such idiomatic usage, one may in some languages say “God is happy when people are at peace and have all they need.”

The second problem in this line is the expression his servant, which represents a change to third person reference. In some languages such a switch of pronominal reference will create misunderstandings for the reader. If that is the case, it will be preferable to say, for example, “he is pleased with my success. I am his servant” or “he is pleased with the way I succeed, and I am his servant” or “… the way I, his servant, succeed.”

In verse 28 the word translated righteousness may be taken here in a concrete fashion, such as New Jerusalem Bible “beneficent acts,” and New Jerusalem Bible “saving justice,” or else as a moral quality, “goodness” (Bible de Jérusalem), “faithfulness” (Bible en français courant). My tongue shall tell of thy righteousness may often be translated “I shall tell people how good you are” or “I shall say to the people ‘God is good.’ ”

The expression My tongue shall tell … of thy praise does not mean that the psalmist will talk about the subject of praising Yahweh, but that he will, in fact, praise Yahweh all the day long.

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 .