The best way of avoiding worry and envy is to Trust in the LORD and do good. Line b of verse 3 is a command in the Masoretic text (so Good News Translation, New English Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible de Jérusalem), but Revised Standard Version and others take it as a consequence: “so you will live….” The land is Canaan, the Promised Land, where God’s people live in safety.
If Revised Standard Version is followed in verse 3b, it will be necessary in many languages to make the connection between 3a and b clear, as Revised Standard Version does. Furthermore, it may be necessary further to describe the land in dwell in the land as “the land I have given you.”
Enjoy security translates the Hebrew “and pasture on faithfulness”; New Jerusalem Bible has “live secure,” and Bible en français courant “live in peace”; New American Bible “enjoy security”; New English Bible “find safe pasture.” The idea of security seems to be required (Briggs); but New Jerusalem Bible has “remain loyal,” and Kirkpatrick proposes “follow after faithfulness.” Dahood seems to follow the Septuagint: “feed on its riches.”
The injunction of verse 4 is usually understood as Take delight in the LORD (Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New American Bible, Dahood), that is, seek and find in him the source of happiness and joy, and not in material possessions. But New Jerusalem Bible has “Seek the favor of the LORD,” and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy translates, “Love the Lord with tenderness.” Take delight in the LORD will require in many languages an explicitly marked relation between delight and LORD. This may be said, for instance, “Take delight in serving the LORD” or “Take delight in what the LORD has promised you.” It is also possible to say, for example, “The LORD gives you joy. Take delight in it.”
The desires of your heart: what you want the most.
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 .