In this strophe (verses 16-22) the psalmist tells the story of Joseph (see Gen 37 and 39–50). In verse 16 Good News Translation “their country” (Revised Standard Version the land) is Canaan, where the Hebrews (Jacob and his descendants) were living. It is better to be specific: “The LORD sent a famine on the land of Canaan” or “… caused a famine in the land of Canaan” (see Gen 41.53-57). The expression summoned a famine or Good News Translation‘s “sent famine” must often be recast in other languages to say, for example, “God caused the people to be hungry.”

In verse 16b the Hebrew is literally he … broke every staff of bread; some take staff here to refer to the small wooden stake on which loaves were carried (Oesterley, Toombs; see Bible en français courant footnote, and K-B mateh 2), but it seems more probable that the word is used figuratively (McCullough, Cohen, Anderson). So New English Bible “cut short their daily bread,” New Jerusalem Bible “took away their supply of food,” and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “he cut short all their food.” Some take staff in the sense of a stalk (of wheat); New American Bible has “ruined the crop that sustained them”; Dahood has “broke every stalk of grain.”

Joseph, sold by his brothers into slavery, was taken to Egypt and there was made a prisoner when his master’s wife falsely accused him of trying to rape her (Gen 39.7-20). Verse 17 is none too explicit, and only a reader who knows the Genesis story will understand what he had sent a man ahead of them means; so it may be necessary to be explicit:

• But in order to save his people
he had sent a man ahead of them to Egypt;
that man was Joseph,
who had been sold as a slave.

The account in Genesis does not mention fetters or a collar of iron. In translating verse 18a it must not be implied that Joseph was placed in chains in order to hurt his feet, as Revised Standard Version seems to imply; the text means “His feet were bound (or, tied up) in chains.” New Jerusalem Bible has “his feet were subjected to fetters.” In verse 18b neck translates nefesh (see 3.2), which in places means neck or throat (see 69.1). Since readers may not find the information in verse 18 familiar, it may be helpful to make explicit in the text that this refers to his being put in prison; for example, “When he was put in prison….”

Verse 19a in Hebrew is “until his word came,” which could refer to Yahweh’s promise (Briggs, Kirkpatrick, Oesterley). Most, however, take it to refer to Joseph’s prediction of the famine in his interpretation of the king’s dream (Gen 41.1-36). New Jerusalem Bible translates “Until his prediction came true.”

In verse 19b the word of the LORD is taken to refer to Yahweh’s message to Joseph in the dreams he had had while still at home (Gen 37.5-10). And the verb in Hebrew for tested is “refine” (see 12.6), which is here taken to mean “proved him right” (also New American Bible, New International Version, Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible); others (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New English Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy) take it as Revised Standard Version has done, tested him or “purged him” (New Jerusalem Bible); see Anderson. Kirkpatrick comments: “purified and refined his character.” A translator should feel free to choose either possibility.

The relation between verse 19a and verse 18b and possibly verse 19b is variously understood. In what follows it should be remembered that the verb in verse 19b is translated in several different ways, and the verb tense in verse 19a is also variously understood. (1) Verse 19 is a complete sentence: Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible; New English Bible reverses the two lines, achieving thereby a clear, coherent statement. (2) Verse 19a goes with verse 18, and verse 19b is a separate statement: Good News Translation. (3) The two lines of verse 19 are parallel and depend on verse 18: “till … till” (New International Version). Everything considered, it seems best to follow New Jerusalem Bible or New English Bible:

In due time his prophecy was fulfilled,
the word of Yahweh proved him true. (New Jerusalem Bible)

He was tested by the LORD’s command
until what he foretold came true. (New English Bible)

If the translator follows Good News Translation‘s “The word of the LORD proved him right,” this expression may have to be recast to say, for example, “What the LORD had told Joseph….”

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 .