Some take verse 3a as a request, a prayer: “May God come…!” (New Jerusalem Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, Bible en français courant, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, An American Translation, New American Bible). It seems better, however, to take it as a statement, describing God’s judgment of Israel.

The coming of God (verse 3) is described in terms of a devouring fire and a mighty tempest (see similar description in Deut 33.1; Psa 18.8-12). If the translator is following Good News Translation, it may be necessary to complete the thoughts of each line more fully; for example, “but he is not coming silently,” “a raging fire burns in front of him,” and “a furious storm blows around him.”

In verse 4 the Hebrew text could conceivably mean that God calls heavens and earth to be judges of his people; but it seems more likely, as the vast majority of commentators and translators believe, that the text means he is calling them “to see him judge his people”; Bible en français courant “to be present at the judgment of his people”; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “to witness the judgment of his people.” “Calls … as witnesses” is a very specialized use of the term “call.” In some languages, if the translator follows the lead of Good News Translation, it will be necessary to say, for example, “God tells heaven and earth to witness” or “God makes heaven and earth look on.” In many languages it will be difficult to say that heaven and earth are to perform the act of witnessing. Therefore one may need to add a simile; for example, “God calls heaven and earth to watch him, just as a person watches.”

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 .