One of the first differences between Robert Alter's translation and the Bay Psalm Book translation was the absence of distinct parallelism, signature of the Hebrew psalm format. I found the "statement-and-refutation" from Alter's translation to be not as easily noticed in the Bay Psalm Book. Perhaps it is from this differing format that the Hebrew psalms read (to me at least) more poetically in comparrison.
One of the significant aspects of the psalms (no matter the translation) in order to set the mood for its meaning is the use of vocabulary. Between the two translations, which are attempting to convey the same meaning, have very different uses of vocabulary - the Bay Pslam being much harsher, therefore establishing a much darker mood than Alter's version. From my remembered study of religious trend from the 1640s in North America (however accurate), fear was used in religious teachings to both attract followers and establish obedience.
As for the psalm's adaptation to Christianity, its resemblence to the Puritan situation in North America is quite strong. The alterations in word context in the Bay Pslam translation reflect very protestant and American ideals. I also do not believe that its audience of "Heathens" and the such were directed towards the Native Americans as much as their prosecutors from Europe.
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