Psalm, the 2nd

The difference in word choice was what hit me first. Noticing this difference prepared me to look at this Puritan translation  in a different light than Alter's translation. The word choice of the sentences correlate but many times they use different words, which carry different meanings. This just goes to show how much work is put into translating , both these works must have translated from the same source, yet have a very different appearance. 

The impression that this psalm gave me, was of a very powerful God. Near the end especially, there was much written on how God could smite one's enemies as with a iron rod, and they would shatter like a jar of clay (this iron rod translation was in both the Puritan and Alter's psalm). The omnipotence of the Lord was additionally expressed in this psalm towards the end. According to the psalms must worship Him in fear. If don't we might experience His rage.

In 1640, this psalm would give the colonists a sense of security. If they put their trust and faith in God, he would protect them from all the dangers of the new world, such as savage Native Americans and the harsh cold winters. If they fell upon bad luck or hard times, it would only strengthen their belief in God, the hard times were due to a lack of worship, and they were feeling Gods rage.

The early translation had much more emphasis on God's power, especially his power to protect and how we should hold him on high in order to "[be anointed upon his holy hill of Zion]" (line 7, early translation). Alter's translation had the same feeling of God's power, but to a lesser degree. He says the same things, but his word choice makes softens the previously stated imposing nature of God.