It was God who gave the people of Israel the victory; it was not their own sword or their own arm that made them victorious; it was God’s mighty power and strength (literally right hand … arm), his favor, his goodness, the light of thy countenance; (see 4.6). This may be translated “by your constant presence with them” or “because you were always with them.”

The expression not by their own sword implies that there is some other power that should have the honor for winning battles, even though they did use their swords in warfare to win the land. In some languages where there is no term for sword, one may translate “your people did not win the land with their weapons.” Where it is possible to use the term sword the expression by their own sword requires in some languages that the instrumental use be made explicit; for example, “by fighting with their swords.” Good News Translation “by their own power” must in some languages be said “because they were strong” or “because they did powerful things.”

The expression the light of thy countenance and “your presence” must sometimes be translated “because they were assured that you were with them.”

Thou didst delight in them: “you were pleased with them,” “you loved them” (so Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). Most translations are like Revised Standard Version, for, which gives the reason for the Israelites’ victories; Bible en français courant has this line as an additional item, joined to the two preceding lines, “and you loved them.”

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 .