In verses 7-9 God is praised as judge of all humankind. The word translated “feared by all” by Good News Translation means awe-inspiring, fearsome (see comments on “dread deeds” in 65.5); in English the word terrible (Revised Standard Version and others) carries a different connotation and is entirely inappropriate here. No human being can withstand God’s anger; all opposition ceases, all resistance disappears. Good News Translation‘s “feared by all” must often be rendered as active, “everyone fears you” or “all people are afraid of you.”

The rhetorical question Who can stand before thee, if translated literally, may mean only the act of standing, whereas the contextual meaning is that of not being able to endure God’s judgment. In some languages this may be expressed “Who can stand up when you judge people?” or “Who can survive when you decide the affairs of people?”

Line c may sometimes be rendered, for example, “when your innermost is hot” or “when your eyes become red.”

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 .