Translation commentary on Psalm 55:20 - 55:21

In these verses the psalmist refers again to his former friend (see verses 12-14). The Hebrew of verse 20a begins “he stretched out his hand,” which most, like Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, take to refer to the former friend of verses 12-14; but New English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy take it to refer to the enemies of verses 18-19. My companion may sometimes be rendered “the one I went around with” or “the one who was one heart with me.” The expression used should resemble or be the same as the one in verse 13.

He “attacked” (sent out his hand against) his friends (literally “those who were at peace with him” or “those who had a covenant with him,” that is, his allies).

In this verse covenant means the “promises” or vows the psalmist and his friend had made to each other, to be friends and to help each other. The verb translated violated means basically “to profane”; in this context it means, as Good News Translation, New English Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible translate, “broke”; or else “dishonored.”

With vivid figures (verse 21) the psalmist accuses his former friend of hypocrisy; his friendly words hide hostility and hatred. Smoother than butter as a reference to talking in a hypocritical and deceitful fashion must be translated by an equivalent expression in the receptor language and not simply copied. It may be possible in some languages to say, for example, “his words were heard as smoothly as butter is swallowed” or “he spoke as smoothly as one swallows butter.” Likewise softer than oil may sometimes be rendered “his words soothed the mind like oil soothes the body.” In line b war means destructive wishes, or hatred, which he nourished in his heart; so the figure of drawn swords follows naturally, meaning destructive curses or wishes. It may be better to use a simile, as Good News Translation does, “like sharp swords.”

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 .

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments