The God who saved his people is described as the one who rules eternally by his might and one whose eyes keep watch on the nations, that is, who keeps watching the pagan nations so as to notice any hostile actions on their part (see the same verb in 37.32). The verb phrase is not used in the sense of God’s guarding or protecting them. So the psalmist warns the nations not to try to rebel against God’s rule.

In some languages by his might must be translated as a reason clause; for example, “Because he is strong he rules forever.” Nations refers to the peoples living around Israel and is often rendered as “the other tribes.”

The rebellious probably refers to the nations in the previous line. In this case it may be possible to translate the rebellious as “those who turn against you” or “those who refuse you.” The whole line may be translated “Let those who turn against you not think that they are great.”

For Selah see 3.2.

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 .