The opening words The LORD reigns are the same as those of 93.1 (which see). In verse 1b the many coastlands translates the phrase “many islands”; as in 72.10, the word translated “islands” may include coastal settlements as well (Good News Translation “islands of the seas,” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “the many islands,” and New English Bible “coasts and islands”). Anderson takes the phrase here to mean “the remotest parts of the earth”; another option is to say in a footnote “the coastal settlements in distant parts of the Mediterranean.” Bible en français courant has “all distant peoples,” and New International Version “the distant shores.”

In verse 1 the common term earth in line a is paralleled in line b by the more specific coastlands, which represents a heightening of poetic effect. In many languages the earth rejoice will have to be recast as “the people of the earth rejoice.” Accordingly the intensification may be represented by saying, for example, “The LORD rules everywhere; so let the people of the earth rejoice; let even the people in the distant islands be glad!”

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 .