The figure in line a seems to be that of enemy horses and chariots running over defeated soldiers (see Isa 51.23). It is a vivid figure of a disastrous military defeat.

Fire and … water (that is, “fire and flood”) are symbols of hardships and dangers, and are not meant literally. In some languages it will be necessary to make explicit that going through fire and through water are comparisons with suffering, and so this can often be translated by the use of a simile; for example, “we suffered like people who suffer from fires and floods” or “we suffered like people who lose their possessions in fires and floods.”

But God has always rescued his people (line c). A spacious place (Good News Translation “a place of safety”) translates the meaning suggested by the Septuagint, Vulgate, Jerome, “relief, respite” (so Weiser, New American Bible, New English Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Bible en français courant), which represents a Hebrew word that is used with this meaning in Exo 8.15. The Masoretic text word here means “saturation, overflowing,” which Cohen interprets as “abundance” (so New International Version); New Jerusalem Bible “prosperity”; Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “banquet.” Also possible is “plenty.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers the Masoretic text and says it has two well-attested meanings, “abundance” and “rest, free breathing,” but makes no recommendation as to which of the two is more suitable in this context. Most translations that follow the Masoretic text prefer the first meaning.

It seems that the Masoretic text can make sense, and so it is not absolutely necessary to appeal to the ancient Versions. In Good News Translation style the translation can be “but now you have made us prosperous” or “you have given us abundant gifts.” Dahood suggests a different meaning: “After you had led us out of abundance,” like the “abundance” that the Israelites enjoyed in Egypt (see Num 11.4-6); this, however, does not seem likely.

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 .