Why dost thou hold back thy hand in line a means “Why do you refuse to help us?” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy retains the figure: “Why do you conceal your powerful hand?” Bible en français courant abandons the figure altogether (as does Good News Translation), “Why do you restrain yourself from intervening?” and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “Why do you look on without doing anything?”

Line b is unclear in Hebrew; it seems to be “and your right hand from inside your bosom consume” (see Revised Standard Version footnote). New Jerusalem Bible attempts to translate it “Draw it (your right hand) out of Your bosom!” But Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, and others prefer to read an emended text; instead of the imperative of the verb “to consume,” a form of the verb “to keep” is read, and instead of the preposition “from (your bosom)” the preposition “in” is read. The bosom is here the loose fold of the garment into which the wearer could place his hands or some object. Good News Translation has the equivalent cultural gesture of refusing help: “keep your hands behind you”; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy and Bible en français courant have “with your arms folded.” New International Version translates “Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!” This is in line with the recommendation of Hebrew Old Testament Text Project. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project says the whole verse (the qere form of the Masoretic text) may be interpreted as follows: “Why do you let your hand return, even your right hand? Out of the midst of your bosom put an end (to it)!” The translator must use expressions in both lines which are entirely natural in the language, and these may have nothing to do with the hands; for example, “Why do you say ‘No’ when we need help, and shake your head at us?”

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 .