In exaggerated fashion the psalmist promises absolute safety to those who trust in Yahweh. The figures thousand and ten thousand, which represent step-up parallelism, if taken literally, suggest either warfare or an epidemic; but it is probable that no specific danger is intended. Dahood, New Jerusalem Bible, and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy translate, in verse 7a-b, “at your left” and “at your right.” “You will not be harmed” translates it will not come near you, in which it refers to whatever may have caused the deaths of the others.

In verse 8a only may be translated “Just open your eyes and you will see…” or “All you have to do is look, and you will see….”

In verse 8b recompense translates a word found nowhere else in the Old Testament; it is here used in a bad sense of punishment, destruction; see a similar statement in 54.7b. In languages in which the passive is not used, God will have to be introduced as the subject of the action; for example, “see how God punishes wicked people.”

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 .