The LORD’s punishment of the psalmist’s enemies is expressed with the verb “to be ashamed,” which describes the result of defeat and humiliation. Good News Translation has tried to make explicit why the enemies will be ashamed, by translating “will know the bitter shame of defeat.” In many languages “shame” is described idiomatically; for example, “will lose face completely” or “lose face lose eye.”

Troubled translates a verb meaning to terrify, dismay (as in 2.5). New English Bible translates the two verbs in line a “shall be confounded and dismayed”; New Jerusalem Bible “will be frustrated and stricken with terror.”

In some languages it is necessary to introduce God as the agent who causes shame to the psalmist’s enemies; for example, “God will give burning faces to my enemies” or “God will cause my enemies to hide their faces.”

Sorely troubled may often be rendered “and he will fill their hearts with fear” or “he will give them double hearts,” indicating confusion.

Turn back translates the verb that in verse 4 is translated “turn”; here the enemies are “turned back,” that is, are “driven away” (Good News Translation) by Yahweh, or else “they will retreat” (see New Jerusalem Bible). In many cases it may be essential to make explicit the causative agent; for example, “God will drive them away” or “God will make them leave.”

Revised Standard Version be put to shame in a moment and Good News Translation “in sudden confusion” (also New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible) translate “be ashamed in a moment”–a picture of confusion and humiliation. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy uses vivid language, “As quickly as the blinking of eyes they will run away, ashamed.”

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 .