In verses 11-12 the psalmist exhorts the people to Sing praises to Yahweh (see the verb in 7.17b), who dwells in Zion.

Sing praises to the LORD often requires recasting as “Sing and praise the LORD” or “Sing and say that the LORD is truly great.”

The verb “to dwell” translates the verb which means “to sit” (see comments on “thy seat” in 7.7) and may mean here “to live” (Revised Standard Version, New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible), or “to rule” (Good News Translation); New Jerusalem Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy have “who reigns in Zion”; Bible en français courant “who has his throne in Zion”; Dahood “the King of Zion.” If a verb meaning “sit” is used idiomatically in the sense of “to dwell” (a rather common usage), it may be necessary to say “sits and rules”; otherwise “rules” will be sufficient.

Zion is the poetic name for Jerusalem and, in a more restricted sense, the Temple, where Yahweh rules over his people (see comments on 2.6).

The peoples are here, as elsewhere, foreign nations. In many languages it is more natural to tell something to people than to nations, but in some cases it may be necessary to express both, “the people of the different nations.”

His deeds translates a word often used in Psalms of God’s actions on behalf of his people, freeing them from bondage in Egypt and taking them to the Promised Land; it is synonymous with “wonderful deeds” in 9.1 (some have “his mighty acts”).

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 .