10 Or “take possession of.”
11 Heb “and their arm did not save them.” The “arm” here symbolizes military strength.
12 Heb “your right hand.” The Lord’s “right hand” here symbolizes his power to protect and deliver (see Pss 17:7; 20:6; 21:8).
13 Heb “your arm.”
14 Heb “light of your face.” The idiom “light of your face” probably refers to a smile (see Eccl 8:1), which in turn suggests favor and blessing (see Num 6:25; Pss 4:6; 31:16; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19; 89:15; Dan 9:17).
15 Or “favorable toward.”
16 The speaker changes here to an individual, perhaps the worship leader or the king. The oscillation between singular (vv. 4, 6) and plural (vv. 1–3, 5, 7–8) in vv. 1–8 may reflect an antiphonal ceremony.
17 The assumes a participle here (מְצַוֶּה [métsavveh], “the one who commands/decrees”) which would stand in apposition to “my God.” It is possible that the , which has the imperative (צַוֵּה, tsavveh) form, has suffered haplography of the letter mem (ם). Note that the preceding word (אֱלֹהִים, ’elohim) ends in mem. Another option is that the is divided in the wrong place; perhaps one could move the final mem from אֱלֹהִים to the beginning of the next word and read מְצַוֶּה אֱלֹהָי (’elohay métsavveh, “[You are my king,] my God, the one who decrees”). Or “command.” This may be the Israelites’ petition prior to the battle. See the introductory note to the psalm.
18 That is, Israel. See Pss 14:7; 22:23.
19 Heb “by you.”
20 Heb “gore” (like an ox). If this portion of the psalm contains the song of confidence/petition the Israelites recited prior to battle, then the imperfects here and in the next line may express their expectation of victory. Another option is that the imperfects function in an emphatic generalizing manner. In this case one might translate, “you [always] drive back … you [always] trample down.” The Hebrew verb translated “drive back” is literally “gore”; the imagery is that of a powerful wild ox that “gores” its enemies and tramples them underfoot.
21 Heb “in your name.” The Lord’s “name” refers here to his revealed character or personal presence. Specifically in this context his ability to deliver, protect, and energize for battle is in view (see Ps 54:1).
22 The image of the powerful wild ox continues; see the note on the phrase “drive back” in the preceding line.
23 Heb “those who rise up [against] us.”
24 Or “have delivered,” if past successes are in view. Another option is to take the perfect as rhetorical, emphasizing that victory is certain (note the use of the imperfect in vv. 5–6).
25 Or “have humiliated,” if past successes are in view. Another option is to take the perfect as rhetorical, emphasizing that victory is certain (note the use of the imperfect in vv. 5–6).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

for not by their own sword did they win the land,

nor did their own arm save them,

but your right hand and your arm,

and the light of your face,

for you delighted in them.

You are my King, O God;

ordain salvation for Jacob!

Through you we push down our foes;

through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.

For not in my bow do I trust,

nor can my sword save me.

But you have saved us from our foes

and have put to shame those who hate us.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

It was not by their sword that they won the land,

nor did their arm bring them victory;

it was your right hand, your arm,

and the light of your face, for you loved them.

You are my King and my God,

who decrees victories for Jacob.

Through you we push back our enemies;

through your name we trample our foes.

I put no trust in my bow,

my sword does not bring me victory;

but you give us victory over our enemies,

you put our adversaries to shame.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

For they did not take the land by their sword—

their arm did not bring them victory—

but by your right hand, your arm,

and the light of your face,

because you were favorable toward them.

You are my King, my God,

who ordains victories for Jacob.

Through you we drive back our foes;

through your name we trample our enemies.

For I do not trust in my bow,

and my sword does not bring me victory.

But you give us victory over our foes

and let those who hate us be disgraced.

NLTNew Living Translation

They did not conquer the land with their swords;

it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory.

It was your right hand and strong arm

and the blinding light from your face that helped them,

for you loved them.

You are my King and my God.

You command victories for Israel.

Only by your power can we push back our enemies;

only in your name can we trample our foes.

I do not trust in my bow;

I do not count on my sword to save me.

You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies;

you disgrace those who hate us.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For not with their sword

did they possess the land,

and their arm did not give them victory.

Rather it was your right hand and your arm

and the light of your presence,

because you delighted in them.

You are my king, O God.

Command victories for Jacob.

By you we push down our enemies;

by your name we tread down those who rise up against us.

For I do not trust my bow,

and my sword cannot give me victory.

Rather you have saved us from our enemies,

and have humiliated those who hate us.

KJV 1900King James Version

For they got not the land in possession by their own sword,

Neither did their own arm save them:

But thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance,

Because thou hadst a favour unto them.

Thou art my King, O God:

Command deliverances for Jacob.

Through thee will we push down our enemies:

Through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.

For I will not trust in my bow,

Neither shall my sword save me.

But thou hast saved us from our enemies,

And hast put them to shame that hated us.

Public Domain