In this strophe the psalmist expresses a thought found elsewhere in Wisdom literature (see Pro 16.8), that the righteous person is more fortunate having a little than are the wicked with all their abundant wealth. True wealth consists in obeying the LORD’s commands. To form comparatives in some languages, it is often necessary to repeat phrases; for example, “a good man owns little and the wicked man owns much, but the good man’s things are better than the wicked man’s things.”

The punishment that Yahweh will inflict on the wicked is graphically described: their arms … shall be broken. Here “arms” is a figure of power (see New International Version, Bible en français courant); it is better to say “power” than Good News Translation “strength,” which is an almost completely physical quality. Dahood takes it to represent “resources.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy abandons the figure of breaking arms and translates “will put an end to the wicked.” The verb translated upholds is the same one used in 3.5 (“sustain”).

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 .