The psalmist invites God to inspect the ruins of the Temple and see for himself what the enemy has done. The ruins are “total” (Good News Translation); the Hebrew word “everlasting, perpetual” is not used to indicate that they will never disappear, but to emphasize the fact that the enemy has wrecked and ruined everything. New English Bible “what was ruined beyond repair”; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New Jerusalem Bible “endless ruins”; Bible en français courant “ruins already ancient.” Direct thy steps (Good News Translation “Walk over”) translates what is literally “lift up your steps,” for which Bible en français courant has “climb up.” The meaning may be “rouse yourself to action” (so New Jerusalem Bible “Bestir Yourself”). Direct thy steps and Good News Translation‘s “Walk over these…” imply making a careful inspection of the ruined Temple. Accordingly in some languages it will be necessary to say something more akin to Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, “Come and see…,” or “Climb up and look at….”

Sanctuary: as in 20.2 the Hebrew here is “holy place,” which Good News Translation correctly renders “Temple.” Elsewhere it is referred to as “house (of Yahweh)” or as “Temple” (as in 5.7), or “meeting place” (as in verse 4a). Translators should determine whether to render all such terms as in the Hebrew and Revised Standard Version. In any case, the reader must understand clearly that the reference is to the Temple in Jerusalem.

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 .