These verses tell how Israel’s enemies were defeated and fled in terror. It is impossible to know whether a particular military campaign is in the psalmist’s mind (such as Sennacherib’s unsuccessful attack on Jerusalem in 701 B.C.; so Briggs); in any case, the matter is described as a historical event. Some commentators see this description as part of a ritual recitation whose purpose was to affirm that no enemy, however strong, was ever able to conquer Jerusalem. At the sight of the city’s mighty defenses (verse 5, As soon as they saw it), they were terrified and fled. Some see here a reference to a frightening manifestation of Yahweh’s power, a theophany, which caused the invaders to flee in terror. Such an interpretation can be expressed by “As soon as they saw God manifest (or, show) his power….”

In verse 4b Good News Translation has made explicit that the pagan kings launched an attack on Mount Zion (see Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “against the city”), and it would be well that translators do something similar. And it may be necessary in some languages to mention explicitly the kings’ armies, to avoid giving the impression that the kings alone gathered and marched off to attack Jerusalem.

Verse 4 may need to be adjusted to say, for example, “The kings and their armies gathered together; they came to attack Mount Zion.”

The reaction of the enemy forces is graphically described in verse 5. It in 5a refers to Mount Zion. It may be clearer to repeat “Mount Zion” in 5a or use another noun substitute such as “that holy place.”

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 .