Revised Standard Version has verses 5-8 as one sentence, which is too complex and long for easy reading. It is better to divide the material into several sentences.

The purpose of the instruction in Israel’s “history of salvation” is not simply to transmit information; it is to ensure that each generation will set their hope in God, not forget the works of God, and keep his commandments, unlike their ancestors, who proved faithless and fickle. In many languages it will be necessary to shift from the nominal phrases in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation to verb phrases in verse 7; for example, “they will hang their hearts on what God has said to them … and will obey what he has commanded them to do.” In verse 7b forget means to ignore, to disregard.

Since verse 8 is a logical conclusion to the preceding verses, it may be clearer in many languages to represent this fact by making that relation explicit; for example, “Because of this…” or “Therefore….” In some languages it will be necessary to avoid the apposition of Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation (fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation) and say, for example, “their ancestors, who were a stubborn….” In verse 8b rebellious refers to the tendency of the Israelites to go against God’s commands. The expression heart was not steadfast is rendered in some languages idiomatically as “they did not rest on God with one heart” or “they did not put their heart in God’s hands.”

In line c heart is parallel with spirit in verse 8d; in each case the word denotes qualities of trust and faithfulness.

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 .