For the figure in verse 10 exalted my horn, see 75.4, 5. As the context shows, here exalted my horn means “made me powerful.” For wild ox as a figure of brute strength, “wild bull” may be more appropriate. In many languages the comparison with the wild ox will have to be shifted to some other strong animal. Translators must make certain that unintended comparisons, such as sexual virility, are not introduced. In languages where there is not a suitable animal denoting strength, the simile may be dropped and the idea may be rendered “You have made me very strong.”

The verb in verse 10b in Hebrew seems to mean “I am anointed”; Revised Standard Version appeals to the Syriac for “you have anointed me,” but most translations follow the Masoretic text. Good News Translation has made explicit the actor implicit in the passive “I am anointed,” that is, “You anointed me.” The figure of “anoint with fresh olive oil” is taken by Good News Translation to mean causing happiness, rejoicing (see 23.5; 45.7); Anderson and others think it indicates strengthening, empowering; Briggs believes it has to do with a celebration of victory. The literal rendering “you poured fresh oil over me” (Revised Standard Version; similarly New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible) conveys no sensible meaning to readers today.

Verse 11 in Hebrew is somewhat wordy and confused: “my eye saw my enemies, my ear heard (of) the wicked who rise up against me.” The word translated enemies occurs only here in the Old Testament; it is taken to be an alternate form of the word which means “enemy, foe” (see 5.8). The meaning of the verse seems clear enough, and most translations render the text as do Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. For language similar to that in line a, see 54.7b. In languages in which a noun phrase such as downfall of my enemies will have to be shifted to a verb phrase, it may be necessary to introduce God as the agent of the actions; for example, “I have seen God defeat my enemies.” In line b the psalmist speaks of having heard the cries of defeat sounded by his evil attackers. Good News Translation fails to represent the first personal pronoun; “my wicked foes” would be better. Or else something like Biblia Dios Habla Hoy will serve: “I shall see how my enemies fall; I shall hear the complaints of those evil men!”

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 .