These verses state what the fool cannot understand, that is, how God’s power and justice operate: though the wicked and evildoers may prosper and succeed, their final fate is destruction and death (see similar expressions in 37.35-36; 73.18-20). Yahweh is supreme ruler of the universe, and sinners are punished and destroyed.

“Totally” in verse 7c translates a Hebrew phrase which means “eternal, forever,” parallel with for ever in verse 8 (which translates a different Hebrew expression). New Jerusalem Bible translates “eternally destroyed.”

Verse 7 consists of a concessive clause followed by a result, “although the wicked flourish, they will be destroyed.” In some languages it is necessary to restructure this type of sentence in two contrasting statements; for example, “the wicked grow like weeds and prosper, but in spite of that they will be forever destroyed.” In some languages it will be necessary to avoid the passive and say “but God will destroy them forever.”

In Hebrew verse 8 begins with the connective “and,” which most translate as but, in contrast with the fate of the fools in verse 7c. On high represents complete authority and power. Good News Translation‘s “supreme” avoids a term referring to space, on high. In some languages this may be rendered “because you are the one who rules over all others forever.”

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 .