The psalmist begins by expressing his fervent desire to be in the Temple. The Hebrew adjective in verse 1 may mean lovely (Revised Standard Version and others), an expression of the beauty of the Temple, or else “beloved,” which expresses the psalmist’s feelings for the Temple (see Briggs). So Good News Translation has “I love” (also Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch); or else, in a general way, “How people love…” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible de Jérusalem). (King James Version “amiable,” in the sense of “lovable,” is now archaic.) “Temple” translates the plural “dwelling places,” which is probably used for emphasis. For translation suggestions on “Temple” see 2.6; 5.7; 20.2. LORD of hosts translates “Yahweh of armies” (see 46.7 and comments).

In verse 2 the Temple is again spoken of, this time as the courts of the LORD (see 65.4 and comments). My soul in verse 2a (see nefesh in 3.2) and my heart and flesh in verse 2c are ways of speaking of the individual, as expressions of deep feelings and emotions (see comments on “heart” and “body” in 16.9). Faints in verse 2a is a way of reinforcing the emotion expressed by longs. In English My soul … faints is not a natural expression; a translation should not make it appear that the psalmist had a fainting spell. So New Jerusalem Bible “I long, I yearn,” and New Jerusalem Bible “My whole being yearns and pines.”

In the expression sing for joy to the living God, for joy is the manner of singing, and in some languages this structure must be shifted to a causal clause; for example, “with my whole heart I will sing to God who lives, because I am glad.” The living God means not only that God lives but that he is source and sustainer of all life. The expression the living God must often be recast as “the God who gives life” or “the God who causes everything to live.”

For similar expression of deep longing for the Temple, see 42.1-2.

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 .