The psalm closes with a confident affirmation of Yahweh’s power and care. He will not abandon the psalmist in his trouble but will save him from his angry enemies (verse 7c). In verse 7c-d the psalmist uses the figure of Yahweh’s hand … right hand as symbols of his care and power. There is no way of knowing what specific trouble the psalmist had, other than the wrath of his enemies. New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and Dahood take the Hebrew word in verse 7a which Good News Translation translates “troubles” to mean “adversaries, foes,” parallel with enemies in verse 7c. Good News Translation has adjusted the Hebrew image of walk in the midst of trouble as “surrounded by troubles,” both being metaphors. In some languages one must say “when trouble grabs me” or “when trouble strangles me.” In languages in which “raise the hand” carries the meaning of stopping someone (in verse 7c), the figure should be used. If not, it is best to follow Good News Translation. “Save me by your power” must sometimes be rendered “you save me because you are powerful” or “you are powerful and so you save me.”

It is to be noted that in verse 8 Good News Translation has kept the second person of direct address, in harmony with verse 7; the Hebrew has the third person in verse 8.

In verse 8 the verb translated fulfil is used only in the Book of Psalms (7.9 “let … come to me”; 12.1 “there is no longer”; 57.2 “fulfils”; 77.8 “at an end”). The context here is similar to that in 57.2. Good News Translation has omitted the personal for me; it should read “You will do for me everything you have promised.” Verse 8b uses the statement found in the repeated refrain in Psalm 136.

It is not clear what is specifically meant by the work of thy hands; probably it refers to the people of Israel. Bible en français courant has “Do not abandon now those you have made with your own hands.” Dahood takes it to be the king, the author (as he supposes) of the psalm. New Jerusalem Bible seems to restrict the sense to created things: “do not abandon what you have made.” It may refer in a more general way to everything that Yahweh has planned (so Good News Translation, New English Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “Finish what you have begun!” It seems best to take it as a reference to the people of Israel.

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 .