In this strophe (verses 7-10) the events of the exodus from Egypt and the trek through the wilderness are recalled as proof of God’s care for his people.

The two lines in verse 7 refer to the same event, and the reader should not think that the psalmist is referring to two different matters. So a translation can be “O God, when you led your people on the march through the wilderness….”

For Selah see 3.2.

The earth quaked: earthquake and storm are associated with the coming of God to deliver his people (see 18.7-13). In verse 8b God is called “the God of Sinai.” The Hebrew text is not too clear; it seems to say “God, the one of (or, this) Sinai” (see similar expression in Judges 5.5), Hebrew Old Testament Text Project refers to Judges 5.5 and for both passages suggests “the One of Sinai” as the translation. and this is the meaning given it by most modern commentators and translators. Bible de Jérusalem and New Jerusalem Bible omit “the one of Sinai” as a gloss; New English Bible has “the lord of Sinai.” Revised Standard Version (also Biblia Dios Habla Hoy) links the Hebrew phrase “this Sinai” to the verb quaked at the beginning of the verse, and repeats the verb (it is not repeated in the Hebrew text), yon Sinai quaked. It is best, then, to accept a form of the Hebrew text that appears as follows:

8b: before God, the one of Sinai,
8c: before God, the God of Israel.

For translation it is best to follow Good News Translation, or else translate, like New International Version, “before God, the One of Sinai”–but this may be awkward and unnatural in some languages, especially in those where the numeral “One” cannot stand alone.

In some languages it may be difficult and unnatural to address God in the second person in verse 7 and then refer to him in the third person in verse 8, so an adjustment may have to be made, such as “because you, the God of Israel came, you came, you who are the God of Sinai.” In some languages Good News Translation‘s “the God of Sinai” may require a more specific relation between Sinai and God. This may often be rendered, for example, “God who appeared at Sinai” or “God who spoke at Sinai.” Sinai will be clearer in some languages if used with a classifier; for example, “the mountain called Sinai.”

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 .