Language-specific Insights

acrostic in Psalm 111

The Hebrew text of Psalms 9/10, 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, and 145 uses acrostics, a literary form in which each verse is started with one of the successive 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. According to Brenda Boerger (in Open Theology 2016, p. 179ff. ) there are three different reasons for acrostics in the Hebrew text: “for ease of memorization,” the representation “of the full breadth and depth of a topic, all the way from aleph to taw (tav),” and the perception of “the acrostic form as aesthetically attractive.” (p. 191)

While most translations mention the existence of an acrostic in a note or a comment, few implement it in their translation. The Natügu translation is one such exception. Boerger (see above) cites a strong tradition in singing the psalms and the fact that Natügu, like Hebrew, also has 22 possible initial letters as motivating factors to maintain the acrostics in that language.

Click or tap here for the complete psalm in Natügu

1 Awi Yawe! Glqpxku Yawe!
Bilvzx nide mz nabznge atwrnrngr, mz nzyrlwr-lxblr-krgr badr leplz nedeng.
2 Clvele nrlc x da kcng tqwz-ngrde, tqaletileng nzmyalzng.
Delc, leplz amrlx na-aotingr drtwrdr da lcng mz nzabrtzlvz-krdrleng.
3 Eu, da lcng amrlx nzaelwapx-ngrdr zmrlue x zmatq rde.
Glqpxku nztubq-krde kc tqvzpe tqvzpe.
4 Ipqle nigu mz zmrlz ngrde kxmyalz x ycngr drtwrde nigu.
Jzsle nigu x nayc zvz mz drtwrgu rkx ngrdeng.
5 Kabzle dakxnzng mz leplz kcng tzamrluelr nide.
Lolvz-amqngile mz drtwrde da kx esalz-ngrbzle badr.
6 Mz nzaprc-krbzle drtc’ ngr lr mrkzbleng mz doa nedeng,
Nide kc tqaelwapx-ngrbzle zmatq rde badr.
7 Okatrle nidr mz nzaclve-krdeng kxtubq.
Prlxpx-zvzle da angidr x nzrsakrlrngr.
8 Rkapx zvz natq kx rsakrlrngr.
Sa na-atutrleng murde nqmq krde mrlz x tubq.
9-10 Takitrde nzangio-krgu drtqde kxtr mz nzamrluengr murde
Vz-nqblq-zvzle nzesalz-krde x
Witi nelzde nzarlapx-krde leplz nedeng.
X aelwapx-ngrgu nzyrplapx-krgu mz nzamrlue-krgu nide.
Yawe kabzle nzrkrlz-angidrngr mz krkcng tzyrlq-angidrlr natqde.
Zbq kalvz nzrglqpxngr nide navz zvz x tqvzpe, tqvzpe.

© 2008, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Danish Bibelen på Hverdagsdansk (publ. 1985, rev. 2015 et al.) translated Psalm 111 into an acrostic. Iver Larsen who worked in this translation explained (in Roelie Van der Spuy in Old Testament Essays 2008, p. 513ff. ) the choice of letters: “We don’t use c, q, w, x and z. On the other hand we do use the extra Danish vowel symbols æ, ø and å, and the y is a vowel, not a consonant. Since Danish has more than 22 letters, we cannot use all the letters, so among those last ones (æ, ø, å) I chose what fits best.”

Click or tap here for the complete psalm in Danish with its English translation

1. Af hele mit hjerte vil jeg takke Herren,

[From all of my heart I will thank the Lord]

berømme ham midt i de gudfrygtiges forsamling.

[extol him in the midst of the assembly of the God-fearing.[

2. De ting, han gør, er vidunderlige,

[The things he does are wonderful,[

enhver, der oplever dem, må juble og glæde sig.

[all who experience them rejoice and are happy.]

3. Fantastiske er alle hans undere,

[All his wonders are fantastic,]

glem ikke hans uendelig godhed.

[never forget his unending goodness.]

4. Herren er nådig og barmhjertig,

[The Lord is compassionate and merciful]

ingen må glemme hans velgerninger.

[no one should ever forget his good deeds.]

5. Jeg ved, at han altid sørger for sit folk.

[I know that he always provides for his people,]

Kan han nogensinde glemme sin pagt med dem?

[Could he ever forget his covenant with them?]

6. Landet, som tilhørte de fremmede, gav han til sit eget folk,

[The land that belonged to foreigners he gave to his own people,]

med magt drev han de andre væk for øjnene af sine udvalgte.

[he forced them away before the eyes of his chosen ones.]

7. Når han handler, gør han altid det rigtige,

[When he acts, he always does what is right,]

ordene fra ham kan man stole på.

[his words are trustworthy.]

8. Pas på, at I trofast adlyder hans bud,

[Be careful to faithfully obey his commands,]

retsindighed har evighedsværdi.

[uprightness/justice is of eternal value.]

9. Sit folk har han sat i frihed,

[He has given his people their freedom,]

til evig tid varer hans pagt med dem.

[his covenant with them will last forever.]

Underfuld og hellig er Herren.

[Wonderful and holy is the Lord.]

10. Visdom udspringer af ærefrygt for Gud.

[Wisdom results from respectfully honoring God.]

Ypperlig er den indsigt, man får ved at adlyde ham.

[The insight you get from obeying him is superb.]

Æren er hans for evigt!

[He is to be honored forever!]

There are two Dutch translations that maintain the acrostic: Naardense Bijbel (publ. 2004) and the Tot Lof van God by Frans Croese (publ. 2010).

Click or tap here for the complete psalm in the Dutch translations

Naardense Bijbel:

1
Alleluia, ik dank de Ene van ganser harte, ✡
binnen de kring der oprechten,
een samenkomst;
2
groot zijn de daden van de Ene, ✡
doorvorsbaar
voor elk met behagen daarin;
3
en glans en luister straalt van zijn werk, ✡
fleur houdt zijn gerechtigheid
voor altijd;
4
genadig en barmhartig is de Ene, ✡
hij doet zijn wonderen voorgoed gedenken;
5
indachtig is hij voor eeuwig zijn verbond, ✡
ja, wie hem vrezen gaf hij teerkost; de
6
kracht van zijn daden
heeft hij zijn gemeente gemeld; ✡
leende hun
het erfdeel van volkeren;
7
machtig zijn zijn handen in trouw en recht, ✡
nooit onbetrouwbaar zijn
al zijn inzettingen;
8
ondersteund voor altijd en eeuwig, ✡
product
van trouw en oprechtheid;
9
redding, loskoop zond hij zijn gemeente,
sloot voor eeuwig zijn verbond, ✡
te vrezen en heilig is zijn naam!-
10
vreze voor de Ene
      is het beginsel van wijsheid,
weg tot goed inzicht
voor wie daarnaar dóen; ✡
zijn lof
blijft staande voor altíjd!

Tot Lof van God translation:

Looft Jah!

Aan Jehovah betuig ik dank, van ganser harte prijs ik Hem,
bij het beraad der oprechten, maar ook in vergadering bijeen.
2
De daden van Jehovah zijn waarlijk groots,
en fascinerend voor een ieder die er behagen in schept.
3
Fenomenaal is Zijn werk in luister en pracht,
gezien ook Zijn rechtvaardigheid die voor alle eeuwigheid staat.
4
Hij stelde voor Zijn wonderdaden een gedachtenis in
– inderdaad, Jehovah is goedgunstig en barmhartig,
5
ja, zoals Hij proviand verschafte aan hen die Hem vreesden –
kortom, Hij zal Zijn verbond voor altijd gedenken.
6
Louter de kracht van Zijn daden al, zoals Hij die Zijn volk verhaalde,
met daarbij hetgeen Hij hun gaf: het erfdeel der natiën.
7
Naar waarheid en recht, dat zijn de werken van Zijn handen;
onveranderlijk zijn al Zijn voorschriften,
8
pal en onwrikbaar staan die, voor altijd en eeuwig;
recht en waarachtig, zo zijn zc gemaakt.
9
Schonk Hij Zijn volk destijds de verlossing,
toen was daar tevens Zijn blijvend verbond.
Uniek, ontzagwekkend en heilig, dat is Zijn naam.
10
Vrees voor Jehovah is het begin van de wijsheid,
waarbij allen scherp van inzicht zijn die daar ook naar doen.
Zijn lof staat voor alle eeuwigheid!

With thanks to Thamara van Eijzeren

In the Zürich German dialect (Züritüütsch) of Swiss German, the Psalms were translated while maintaining the acrostic by Josua Boesch (publ. 2009 ).

Click or tap here for the complete psalm in Zürich German

1 Halleluja! ER isch is mee wèrt als ales.
Au iich wil IMM tanke vo ganzem hèrze,
Bi siine friind i siinere gmäind.
2 Chumm lueg, was èr ales ttaa hät für öis.
Die, wo s ggluschtet, psined sich drüber.
3 ER hat ales herrlich und schöön gmacht.
Für eewig bliibt siini grächtigkäit fescht.
4 Gaar nie wil iich sini wunder vergässe.
Häsch ghöört, ER isch barmhèrzig und güetig.
5 I siinere hand isch z ässe fur d fründ.
Käine chunnt z chuurz, èr haltet s verschpräche.
6 Lueg, was er mit chraft fur siis volk tuet,
Mit welere liebi èr ine s land gitt.
7 Nüüt isch nöd zueverlèèssig und rächt vo dèm, won er gmacht hät.
Ooni siis soorge hett ales kä sinn.
8 Probier nöd z flicken a siineren oornihg, suscht hebt si nöd eewig.
Rue hetsch au nümen und ales gieng schieff.
9 Siim volk hät èr emaal d freihäit ggèè.
Tänk doch an bund, won èr mit em gschlosse.
Uurhäilig isch IMM sini nööchi bi öis.
10 Vo aafang aa hämer nur INN als mitti vo öisere wiishäit.
Wèr siich dernaa richtet, hät s imer guet.
Zum schluss wämer inn rüeme imer und eewig, ER isch is mee wèrt als ales.

The English Bible translation by Ronald Knox (publ. 1950) maintains most Hebrew acrostics (even though Knox’s translation itself is based on the Latin text of the Vulgate rather than the Hebrew). Due to the higher number of letters in the English alphabet, it skips the letters J, Q, X, and Z. (Click or tap here for the complete psalm in the Knox translation.)

1 All my heart goes out to the Lord in praise, Before the assembly where the just are gathered.
2 Chant we the Lord’s wondrous doings, delight and study of all who love him.
3 Ever his deeds are high and glorious, faithful he abides to all eternity.
4 Great deeds, that he keeps still in remembrance!
5 He, the Lord, is kind and merciful. In abundance he fed the men who feared him, keeping his covenant for ever.
6 Lordly the power he shewed his people,
7 making the lands of the heathen their possession. No act but shews him just and faithful; of his decrees there is no relenting.
8 Perpetual time shall leave them changeless; right and truth are their foundation.
9 So he has brought our race deliverance; to all eternity stands his covenant. Unutterable is his name and worshipful;
10 vain without his fear is learning. Wise evermore are you who follow it; yours the prize that lasts for ever. (Source )

Another English translation that maintains the acrostic is by Gordon Jackson (The Lincoln Psalter, 1997). (Click or tap here for the complete psalm in the Jackson translation.)

Hallelujah!

All that I am I offer in praise of the Lord,
Being in the band of the blessed, all good men and true.
Can we give adequate, accurate praise for his works?
Dearer and dearer he is to us, as we consider them.
Exalt him as much as we may he is always more worthy
For the meters of mortals are useless to measure his good with.
Great is his name, and yet he deserves a far greater;
Heaven’s his nickname, and Holiness, Mercy, Truth, Grace.
If those who fear him hunger, see how he feeds them!
Keeping his word for his own honour’s sake;
Look how he gave his people the lands of others,
Making them gifts of cities by his own strength.
Nothing he does that is not done deeply with justice;
On stone his laws are written, and they will not adjust;
People and fashions will change, but not his wisdom;
Right is right with him, and truth is truth.
Saving his people again and again he is faithful
To a promise his people have broken again and again.
Unworthy as we are, his holy name honours us;
Vital wisdom it is that we trust him and fear him,
Wanting his teaching, enjoying our own understanding,
Yielding our wisdom to his, and gaining by giving.

And lastly, Brenda Boerger (2024) translated this psalm while maintaining the acrostic:

1 Allelu-Yah! O, praise th’almighty King!
 Bless him! I’ll let all my thanksgivings ring;
 Companions of faith will join us and sing.
2 Dynamic — God’s deeds in every detail,
 Eagerly studied in all they entail,
 For deep delight is found there without fail.
3 God’s glory glows from every endeavor;
 His righteous holiness lasts forever.
4 Incomparable marvels make us recall,
 Just, gentle, good Yahweh, is Lord of all.
5 Kind Yahweh feeds all those who revere him,
 Loyally keeps his pledge, draws us near him.
6 Manifesting immense might to his clan,
 Now we inherit other nations’ land.
7 Outstanding loyalty, justice renowned;
 Precepts proven to rest on solid ground,
 Quintessentially trustworthy and sound.
8 Righteous, reliable, bound together;
 Securely they stand, established forever.
9 Truly he triumphed in saving his sheep,
 Upheld his covenant, ordained to keep;
 Victoriously, it is ever the same.
 Wonderful, holy, and awesome’s his name!
10 Exalting Yahweh shows wisdom’s growing;
 Yielding means understanding is flowing.
 Zealously then, let his praise be on-going.

Another published English translation with acrostics is The Psalms Chronologically Arranged by the “Four Friends” (C.T. Arnold, A.W. Potts, F.E. Kitchener, S. Philpotts) of 1870.

Another 19th century translation with maintained acrostics is the German 1883 commentary and translation by Franz Delitzsch . Unlike the other translations, he translates the acrostics of this and the other acrostic psalms by following an approximation of the German sound of the 22 letters (alef/א‎ = a; bet/ב‎ = b; gimel/ג‎ = g; dalet/ד = d; he/ה‎ = h; vav/ו = u; zayin/ז‎ = s; chet/ח‎ = h; tet/ט = t; yod/י‎ = i or j; kaf/כ = k; lamed/ל = l; mem/מ = m; nun/נ = n; samech/ס‎ = s; ayin/ע = e; pe/פ = f; tsadi/צ‎ = z; qof/ק = k; resh/ר = r; shin/ש‎ = sch; tav/ת = t).

This blog post mentions several English translation of Psalm 111 with an acrostic that were not published in official Bible translations. The above-quoted Van der Spuy also has his own Afrikaans translation with an acrostic (quoted in Old Testament Essays 2008, p. 513ff. ).

complete Psalm 148 (Natügu)

The traditional Natügu song form uses stanzas of four lines (“quatrains”) “in which the first and last lines exhibit verbatim repetition in the words (…). Given that repetition, the form requires that the clause of the first line also be able to function syntactically as a final clause in the fourth line, or as an independent sentence. And because the lines of the quatrain are rather short, it involves a distillation of the message into one or two short sentences. The number of syllables in each set of two lines is usually in the 12-15 syllable range.” (Source: Brenda Boerger in Open Theology 2016, p. 179ff. )

Psalm 148 “with its extensive repetition” provided an ideal text to use the traditional Natügu literary form. Following is a back-translation from Natügu that follows the stanzas of four lines with the first and last line repeated (the Natügu original can be read right here ):

1-2 Ever exalt Yahweh, all you heavenly ones.
You his angels, ever exalt Yahweh.
3 Ever exalt Yahweh, sun and moon.
And all you stars, ever exalt Yahweh.
4 Ever exalt him, everything in the sky.
And you upper waters, ever exalt him.
5 Ever exalt his name. He who made you,
By the word he gave. Ever exalt Yahweh.
6 His word’s eternal. He set for each one
Where you’ll ever be. His word’s eternal.
7 Ever exalt Yahweh, you fish and monsters
Of the sea and deeps. Ever exalt Yahweh.
8 You obey his word, lightning and hail.
Clouds, wind and rain, you obey his word.
9 Ever exalt Yahweh, all mountains and hills.
You trees of the bush, ever exalt Yahweh.
10 Ever exalt him, all animals and birds.
And things that crawl, ever exalt Yahweh.
11 Let’s exalt Yahweh too, all of us in the world.
VIPs and leaders, we must also exalt Yahweh.
12 Let’s exalt him too, us lads and lasses.
Babes and elders, let’s exalt him too.
13 Let’s exalt his name, all of us.
His name is high. Let’s exalt his name.
His greatness surpasses the land
And the sky too. His greatness!
14 Let’s ever exalt Yahweh,
All us his Israelites.
He saves and loves us.
Let’s ever exalt Yahweh.

complete verse (2 Timothy 2:20)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Timothy 2:20:

  • Uma: “In a big house there are many kinds of stuff in the kitchen. There are good things, for instance things made of gold and silver. There are also some made from wood or just from clay. The good things are used if there is a guest that is honored. The things that aren’t so good are used daily.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I will tell you a comparison/parable, Timoteo. In a big house where a rich person lives are many kinds of equipment. There are gold plates and silver plates. These valuable plates are used only if there are important people visiting them. There are also in that house wooden plates and clay pots. These are used every day.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “In any large house there are implements of gold and silver, and there are also implements of wood and pottery. The owner of the house sets aside those implements of gold and silver for they are dear to him. But the others are not so dear to him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “In the large house of a rich-person, the types of things-used are not the same. There are (things) made of gold and silver whose use is valuable/important, there are also (things) made of wood and clay for whatever.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “For let us use as an illustration an elaborate house. It isn’t as if all the utensils there are gold and silver. There are indeed those made of wood and clay. These made of gold and silver, they’re only used on high/important days. These made of wood and clay, they are for everyday use.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “In a large house the dishes are not the same. There are dishes of gold, there are dishes of silver. There are wooden ones. There are dishes of clay. Concerning these dishes, there are some which are special, and also there are those which are not special.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Natügu (verses 20-21): “In our way, when a big man comes to our house, we give him very nice food, in our honouring him. But when we stay alone, we don’t habitually eat food like that given to him. And this is the talk-picture that we must follow. And we also will be like that good food if we purify ourselves from those bad things. Because it is we who are chosen to help our Lord. So, we are already prepared to do very nice things.” (Source: Carl Gross)

complete verse (2 Timothy 2:21)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Timothy 2:21:

  • Uma: “So, if we release/stop our evil character, we become like the good things, that are used to honor guests. Its meaning, we become workers who are holy and useful to our Lord, and we are ready to do every kind of good work.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then we (incl.) the ones who trust Isa are figuratively those valuable things/equipments. If our (incl.) livers are clean/holy and we (incl.) abandon all our (incl.) evil deeds we (incl.) are precious/valuable to God because we (incl.) are entirely for God. So-then he has a use for us (incl.) and we (incl.) are ready/prepared to do everything which is good.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for the person who wants to be considered dear and set aside by God like those very precious implements, he must have done with all evil behavior and then he will be worthy to be used by God for every kind of good work.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So also with a person, if he distances-himself from all evil, the Lord will use him for (something) important/valuable, because he will be suitable and ready to be used for all good that is-to-be-done.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well now, those people who go far from all evil, they are like these utensils which are far-from-ordinary. For that is who has made sure he belongs to his Lord, one who is useful and is always ready to do whatever good work.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Like this it is in the church, not all of the people have separated from evil. But the person who wants to separate from evil is the person who does the work of God. He works in what is special.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Natügu (verses 20-21): “In our way, when a big man comes to our house, we give him very nice food, in our honouring him. But when we stay alone, we don’t habitually eat food like that given to him. And this is the talk-picture that we must follow. And we also will be like that good food if we purify ourselves from those bad things. Because it is we who are chosen to help our Lord. So, we are already prepared to do very nice things.” (Source: Carl Gross)

trumpet

The musical instrument that is most often translated as “trumpet” in English is translated in the following ways:

In the UBS Helps for Translators‘ Human-made Things in the Bible (original title: The Works of Their Hands: Man-made Things in the Bible) it says the following:

Description: The trumpet was a wind instrument, frequently used in signaling, especially in connection with war. It was made of metal (the trumpets mentioned in Numbers 10:2 et al. were made of silver). It was a straight, narrow tube, about 40-45 centimeters (16-18 inches) in length. One end had a mouthpiece, while the other end was widened into a bell shape.

Usage: The sound on the trumpet was made by blowing into the mouthpiece in such a way as to vibrate the lips. The vibrations were magnified as they passed along the widening body of the tube.

The purpose of the trumpet in Israel was primarily to signal. Numbers 10 lists a variety of occasions in which the trumpets were to be used, including signaling the people to break camp, calling all of the people together for a meeting, calling only the leaders together, sounding an alarm at the beginning of a battle, and blowing them for liturgical purposes during certain festivals. It is significant that it was the task of the priests to sound the trumpets.

Translation: Generally speaking, translators may distinguish between the Hebrew words chatsotsrah and shofar by rendering chatsotsrah as “trumpet” or “bugle” and shofar with a more generic word for “horn” or with “ram’s horn.” Note the following comment in Translation commentary on Psalm 98:4 – 98:6: “In some languages it will not be possible to make a distinction between the two Hebrew terms translated trumpets and horn. In such cases the local term for a horn will be used. The Greek Old Testament used only one term.”

The exact meaning of the Aramaic word qeren in Daniel 3:5 and following is debated. It probably refers to a brass wind instrument and is best rendered “horn.”

The present-day equivalent for the Greek word salpigx is “bugle.” A bugle is generally smaller than a trumpet and is often associated with the sounding of military signals.

Man blowing a trumpet (source: Horace Knowles (c) British and Foreign Bible Society 1954, 1967, 1972)

Quoted with permission.

See also trumpet / bugle.

acrostic in Psalm 34

The Hebrew text of Psalms 9/10, 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, and 145 uses acrostics, a literary form in which each verse is started with one of the successive 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. According to Brenda Boerger (in Open Theology 2016, p. 179ff. ) there are three different reasons for acrostics in the Hebrew text: “for ease of memorization,” the representation “of the full breadth and depth of a topic, all the way from aleph to taw (tav),” and the perception of “the acrostic form as aesthetically attractive.” (p. 191)

While most translations mention the existence of an acrostic in a note or a comment, few implement it in their translation. The Natügu translation is one such exception. Boerger (see above) cites a strong tradition in singing the psalms and the fact that Natügu, like Hebrew, also has 22 possible initial letters as motivating factors to maintain the acrostics in that language.

Click or tap here for the complete psalm in Natügu

1 Awi-zvzbo mz Yawe,
X tramawxu nzglqpx-krnge nide.
2 Bilvz-zvzx Yawe mz nabznge,
Murde nimu kx nzaetqbz drtqmu na-abrtzlvzamu da kcng tqaleleng.
3 Clve Yawe doa x da amrlx. Naglqlzku drtqde.
X napipx-lxblr-ngrgu nzetu-krde.
4 Da kcng tqmwxlrtix, arlapxpebz Yawe ninge mz da lcng amrlx.
Murde mzli kc tqkrka’-ngrbo bade, ayzlumle natqnge.
5 Elr! Na-abrtrpzmu drtwrmu mz Yawe, murde ma drtqmu tqmya,
X na-abrtzlvzamu nzokatr-krde nimu.
6 Gct, mzli kc nzmnc-krnge tqtrka-ngrde, arlapxq ninge,
Mz nzatutr-krm nzkrka’-krnge.
7 Ili! Enjrl ne Yawe arlapxle leplz mzli kc drtqdr tqetq-ngrde,
Murde aclvele krkcng tzmyatitrlr Yawe.
8 Jzsamu ena nzmrlzkr Yawe x na-abrtr-krbzmu drtwrmu bade.
Murde krkcng tqaclveleng nzabrtz-zvzng.
9 Kxnzvz-nqblqlr natq Yawe nzrngiscng da amrlx.
Delc nimu leplz nedeng na-amrlue-ngrnamu nide.
10 Laion kx nzxplrng nzkrlzlr nzbrtalengr,
Leplz kx nzvz-nqblqlr Yawe, trpnzngr da kx mrbrpxm badr.
11 Mrlxngeng x inyxngeng, lalztqmamu bange,
Murde na-alvztrpo bamu kxnamu nzamrluengr Yawe.
12?Nike suti drtwrm?
?Nzlungr kxmrlz kxboi?
13 Obq zpwx, x bzkq pokiaq.
Bzkq ycmne-atrkatiq leplz,
14 Prszpx nqmq kxtrka. X ale zvz da kxmrlz.
X nasuti drtwrm nzmnc-zpwx-krmu badr leplz mz nrwx.
15 Rlxtibz ncblo kxtubq mz Yawe nzokatr-krde nide.
X Yawe sa naxlrbzle nzkrka’-krde mz nzaclve-krde nide.
16 Sa napnanatile krkcng tzale-zvzng da kxtrka.
Trobqpwzu badr x mzli kc nabz-ngrdr, ani txpwz nzmrbrtrkr mz drtwr nidr. 1 Pita 3:10-12
17 Takitrde nzxlr-krbz Yawe natq leplz kxnztubqng mzli kc tzyrni-ngrbzlr bade,
Murde ngi nqmq krde nzokatr-krde leplz nedeng.
18 Vz zvz nzesolvzti-krde krkcng drtwrdr tqvz,
X nzamnc-lrpi-krde krkcng nabzdr tqyrnibu.
19 Wzpxtx zlwz nzkxpukr ncblo kxtubq.
A’ Yawe sa na-arlapxle nide mz da lcng amrlx.
20 X mz nzaclve-zpwx-krde nide,
Trpnzngr nrvr ngrdeng kx nztavxi. Jon 19:36
21 Yawe sa na-ayrplapxle kxdrka’-ngrng kcng tztrkalr-ngrdr kxnztubqng.
X nqmq krdr lc tqtrka sa nanibq-moule nidr.
22 Zvz Yawe nztu-krbzle mz nibr kxnzawz nedeng.
X trpnzngr nzayrplapx-krde krkcng tzabrtrpzlr drtwrdr bade.

© 2008, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. All rights reserved.

There are two Dutch translations that maintain the acrostic: Naardense Bijbel (publ. 2004) and the Tot Lof van God by Frans Croese (publ. 2010).

Click or tap here for the complete psalm in the Dutch translations

Naardense Bijbel:

1
(v. David,
toen hij zijn verstand verdraaide
      voor het aanschijn van Avimelech,- ✡
die hem wegjoeg,
zodat hij kon gáán.)
2
Altijd zal ik zegenen de Ene, ✡
steeds
ligt zijn lof mij voor in de mond.
3
Bij de Ene prijst mijn ziel zich gelukkig,- ✡
mogen gebukten het horen
      en zich verheugen!
4
Geeft met mij grootheid aan de Ene, ✡
laat ons zijn naam eenparig roemen!
5
De Ene zocht ik
      en hij heeft mij geantwoord, ✡
aan al wat ik duchtte
heeft hij mij ontrukt!
6
En wie opkeken naar hem, zij straalden, ✡
geen schaamrood kleurde
hun wangen.
7
Fluisterend kon deze gebogene nog roepen
      en de Ene hoorde, ✡
uit al wat hem benauwde
heeft hij hem gered.
8
Gelegerd is de engel van de Ene
rondom wie hem vrezen, ✡
en hij redt ze uit.
9
Hoe goed de Ene is: proeft het en ziet! ✡
Zalig de kerel
die toevlucht zoekt bij hem!
10
Ja gij, zijn heiligen, vreest de Ene!- ✡
want er zal geen gebrek zijn
voor wie hem vrezen.
11
Kommer en honger leden
      welpen van leeuwen, ✡
maar de zoekers van de Ene:
niets van alle goed zal hun ontbreken.
12
Laat u leiden door mij, zonen, en hoort; ✡
de vreze voor de Ene
zal ik u leren!
13
Mannen met behagen in leven, wie niet?- ✡
die lengte van dagen minnen,
het goede willen zien:
14
niet nalaten je tong te hoeden voor kwaad, ✡
je lippen
voor het spreken van bedrog!
15
O wijk voor het kwade, doe het goede, ✡
zoek naar vrede, jaag die na!
16
Rechtvaardigen:
      de Ene houdt zijn ogen op hen, ✡
zijn oren
richten zich op hun geroep.
17
Pijnlijk is het aanschijn van de Ene
      voor daders van kwaad, ✡
hij snijdt hun gedachtenis van de aarde af.
18
Schreeuwden zij: de Ene hoorde, ✡
aan al hun benauwingen
heeft hij hen ontrukt.
19
Terzijde staat de Ene
      gebrokenen van hart, ✡
hij redt verbrijzelden van geest.
20
Vele zijn de rampen
      voor een rechtvaardige, ✡
aan die alle
ontrukt hem de Ene,
21
wakend over elk van zijn botten, ✡
daarvan zal niet een
worden gebroken.
22
Zelf echter zal het kwaad
      de booswicht doden ✡
en zullen haters van een rechtvaardige
      hun schuld boeten.
23
Maar de Ene koopt
      de ziel van zijn dienaren los,- ✡
geen schuld voor
al wie toevlucht zoeken bij hem!

Tot Lof van God translation:

Op naam van David, toen bjj zich aan Abimelech als verward bad voorgedaan, waarop die bent wegjoeg en bij heenging.

2
Altijd, alom, allerwegen, zo wil ik Hem zegenen, Jehovah!
Aanhoudend is Zijn lofzang in mijn mond.
3
Beroemen wil mijn ziel zich op Hem, op Jehovah,
zachtaardigen luisteren verheugd.
4
Daarom, verheerlijkt Jehovah met mij,
laat ons gezamenlijk Zijn naam hogelijk prijzen.
5
Ernstig zocht ik Jehovah en Hij antwoordde mij,
uit al mijn verschrikkingen bevrijdde Hij mij.
6
Fantastisch! Ze keken naar Hem uit en straalden;
rood, maar beslist niet van schaamte, was hun gelaat!
7
Hij, Jehovah, Hij luistert waar de ellendige Hem aanroept;
uit al zijn noden zal Hij hem redden.
8
Inderdaad, het is Jehovah’s engel die zich legert
rondom hen die Hem vrezen; Hij is het die hen verlost.
9
Ja, proeft en ervaart dat Jehovah goed is;
hoe gelukkig, de man die toevlucht zoekt bij Hem!
10
Koestert daarom vrees voor Jehovah, al Zijn heiligen,
voor hen die Hem vrezen is er geen enkel gebrek.
11
Liepen jonge leeuwen uitgehongerd rond,
wie Jehovah zochten, ontbrak het aan niets van al het goede.

12
Maar nu dit, mijn kinderen, komt luisteren naar mij,
laat mij jullie Ieren omtrent de vrees voor Jehovah.
13
Natuurlijk, wie wil er niet, waar men het leven liefheeft,
die dagen genieten om inderdaad het goede te zien, allicht.
14
O, hoedt uw tong voor slechtheid,
uw lippen voor bedrieglijke spraak.
15
Pas op, mijd het slechte, beoefen het goede veeleer,
zoek de vrede, jaag die vooral na.
16
Richten Jehovah’s ogen zich op wie rechtvaardig zijn,
Zijn oren zijn op hun noodkreet gericht.
17
Slaat Jehovah’s aangezicht gade wie het kwade bedrijven,
dan toch veeleer om hun gedachtenis op aarde af te snijden.
18
Toen zij echter [de rechtvaardigen dus] schreeuwden,
toen heeft Jehovah geluisterd, uit al hun noden bevrijdde Hij hen.
19
Uit al hun noden! Jehovah is nabij degenen wier hart gebroken is;
redding bewerkt Hij voor degenen wier geest verbrijzeld is.
20
Voor de rechtvaardige zijn er heel wat rampspoeden,
maar van dat alles zal Jehovah hem stellig bevrijden.
21
Werkelijk, al diens beenderen zal Hij beschermen,
niet één ervan zal worden gebroken.
22
Zo zal rampspoed degenen doden die doortrapt gewetenloos zijn,
zij die de rechtvaardige haten, zullen daar ook voor boeten.

23
Stellig, Jehovah zal de ziel loskopen van hen die Hem dienen; niets te boeten valt er daarom voor hen, voor allen die toevlucht zoeken bij Hem!

With thanks to Thamara van Eijzeren

The English Bible translation by Ronald Knox (publ. 1950) maintains most Hebrew acrostics (even though Knox’s translation itself is based on the Latin text of the Vulgate rather than the Hebrew). Due to the higher number of letters in the English alphabet, it skips the letter V, X, Y, and Z.

2 At all times I will bless the Lord; his praise shall be on my lips continually.
3 Be all my boasting in the Lord; listen to me, humble souls, and rejoice.
4 Come, sing the Lord’s praise with me, let us extol his name together.
5 Did I not look to the Lord, and find a hearing; did he not deliver me from all my terrors?
6 Ever look to him, and in him find happiness; here is no room for downcast looks.
7 Friendless folk may still call upon the Lord and gain his ear, and be rescued from all their afflictions.
8 Guardian of those who fear the Lord, his angel encamps at their side, and brings deliverance.
9 How gracious the Lord is! Taste and prove it; blessed is the man that learns to trust in him.
10 It is for you, his chosen servants, to fear the Lord; those who fear him never go wanting.
11 Justly do the proud fall into hunger and want; blessing they lack not that look to him.
12 Know, then, my children, what the fear of the Lord is; come and listen to my teaching.
13 Long life, and prosperous days, who would have these for the asking?
14 My counsel is, keep thy tongue clear of harm, and thy lips free from every treacherous word.
15 Naught of evil cherish thou, but rather do good; let peace be all thy quest and aim.
16 On the upright the Lord’s eye ever looks favourably; his ears are open to their pleading.
17 Perilous is his frown for the wrong-doers; he will soon make their name vanish from the earth.
18 Roused by the cry of the innocent, the Lord sets them free from all their afflictions.
19 So near is he to patient hearts, so ready to defend the humbled spirit.
20 Though a hundred trials beset the innocent, the Lord will bring him safely through them all.
21 Under the Lord’s keeping, every bone of his is safe; not one of them shall suffer harm.
22 Villainy hastes to its own undoing; the enemies of innocence will bear their punishment.
23 The Lord will claim his servant as his own; they go unreproved that put their trust in him. (Source )

(Note that in the Hebrew version, 34:1-22 is lettered 34:2-23, which is followed by Knox)

Another English translation that maintains the acrostic is by Gordon Jackson (The Lincoln Psalter, 1997). (Click or tap here for the complete psalm in Jackson’s translations).

All my days I will bless the Lord;
      always my lips shall speak good of his kindness.
Being his, I will glory in him;
      let the humble hear and join in praise with me.
Come, all who are minded to honour his name
      and let us share together our hallelujahs.
Duly I prayed to him when I was in need;
      duly he answered and set my mind at rest.
Each one who seeks him eventually will find him;
      he will light up their faces with sudden joy;
For the poor in spirit have a Father in heaven,
      and all his wealth is at their command.
Guardian angels are night and day on hand
      to preserve God-fearing souls in hardship.
He is the man of supreme taste among men
      who has for himself tasted the goodness of God.
In fear of the Lord there is prosperity;
      having God, what more can you have?
Just men find in him whatever they need,
      but the others are never satisfied.
Knowledge is good, and the first thing you should know
      is your place, with God above you.
Life and all of its blessings you can have
      if you set store by a few well-tested maxims:
Mind your tongue, so it doesn’t lead you astray,
      so it never licks the allurement of a lie;
Never do what you think wrong; always do what you should;
      let peace be precious to you, and help others to it;
Open are the eyes of the Lord to the needs of the honest,
      and open his ears to their prayers;
Pronounced on the workers of wrong is the sentence of God,
      even before they do it their doom is determined;
Ready to help the just, though, before they ask;
      he is impatient to hear their prayers, and help them;
So keenly he shares the tears of the broken-hearted,
      so keen to lift the spirits of the downcast;
Through all the troubles that fall to a good man’s lot
      the Lord sustains him and turns them into blessings;
Unbroken his bones and his spirit,
      however much tested and tried;
Vainly the wicked assault him,
      they hate him and kill him in vain;

Yes, the Lord will set free the souls of those who love him,
      and acquit the failings of any who trust in him.

And lastly, Brenda Boerger (2024) translated this psalm while maintaining the acrostic (click or tap here for the complete psalm in Boerger’s translation).

1 Always Amighty One, I’ll give you praise,
 Asserting honor should be God Yahweh’s.
2 By boasting, I brag of his great displays;
 By hearing, let abased ones shout hoorays.
3 Choose cheering, exalting him, everyone;
 Chant till we’re done and give HaShem our praise.
4 Desperately I asked the Lord to hear,
 Delivered, for Lord Yahweh’s ever near.
 Each strong anxiety did disappear.
 Encouraged, I escaped from every fear.
5 For faces glow, focusing on his name,
 For no shame comes when one’s faith is sincere.
6 God hears the poor and grants them hearings sure,
 Gracious, he saves from what they can’t endure.
7 High heaven’s angel now camps round the pure.
 He rescues those who love him and revere.
8 I tell you, taste the goodness of the Lord.
 In his fort’s shelter one finds life secure.
9 Just bow to Yahweh now. on reverent knees;
 Join holy ones of his communities.
 Keep it in mind that Lord God meets our needs,
 Kindly he meets our shortfalls by his deeds.
10 Lean lion ribs may look thin as a rack;
 Lord-seekers lack not one good thing indeed.
11 My children, take heed to me when I call.
 Make sure that Yahweh’s honored above all.
12 / 13 Now those who love to live long and not fall
 Need to refrain from evil lying talk.
 Oh only then does life have meaning true —
 Obeying God Tsidkenu in your walk.
14 Pursue God’s peace with a hot, holy fire.
 Purge evil, making goodness your desire.
 Quit your iniquity. Avoid God’s ire.
 Quickly now do whatever he requires.
15 Redeemer God rewards those doing right,
 Resolves their plight, as holy rectifier.
16 See God stop those who wickedly molest,
 So they’re all forgotten, since that is best.
17 Sharp shrieks of pain. God hears his own protest.
 Shows shackles fall, as they get their request.
18 Tis true he’s near when broken spirits moan,
 To liberate his own who are depressed.
19 Uncounted trials come in by the score,
 Unchanging undergirding’s from the Lord.
 Vexed, testing great now knocks right at the door —
 Vic-to-ry comes from God, whom we adore.
20 When Yahweh God protects the godly’ s bones,
 We hear no groans, no breaks, with his support.
21 Expect that men die from iniquity,
 Executed as foes of purity.
22 Yahweh God shows his folks security,
 Yearning to save those with integrity.
 Zapping, condemning need not be his way.
 Zeal for Yahweh who gives clemency.

Another published English translation with acrostics is The Psalms Chronologically Arranged by the “Four Friends” (C.T. Arnold, A.W. Potts, F.E. Kitchener, S. Philpotts) of 1870.

Another 19th century translation with maintained acrostics is the German 1883 commentary and translation by Franz Delitzsch . Unlike the other translations, he translates the acrostics of this and the other acrostic psalms by following an approximation of the German sound of the 22 letters (alef/א‎ = a; bet/ב‎ = b; gimel/ג‎ = g; dalet/ד = d; he/ה‎ = h; vav/ו = u; zayin/ז‎ = s; chet/ח‎ = h; tet/ט = t; yod/י‎ = i or j; kaf/כ = k; lamed/ל = l; mem/מ = m; nun/נ = n; samech/ס‎ = s; ayin/ע = e; pe/פ = f; tsadi/צ‎ = z; qof/ק = k; resh/ר = r; shin/ש‎ = sch; tav/ת = t).

hand drum / frame drum

The musical instrument that is most often translated as “tambourine,” “timbrel,” or “drum” in English is translated in the following ways:

In the UBS Helps for Translators‘ Human-made Things in the Bible (original title: The Works of Their Hands: Man-made Things in the Bible) it says the following:

The drum consisted of a membrane, usually of animal skin, which was stretched over a shallow circular, triangular, or square frame.

The drum was struck sharply with one or two hands, depending on where it was situated. It could be held in the left hand, under the left arm, or against the chest and struck with the right hand, or it could be held on the knees or the ground and struck with one or two hands. The fingers of the left hand could be used to tighten or loosen the tension on the membrane as it was struck with the palm of the right hand.

The use of the Hebrew word tof is usually associated with singing, processions, and festivals. Archaeological evidence indicates that drums with metal circlets on the frame (“tambourines” or “timbrels”) were not known in biblical times. As a general rule, the best translation for this word will be “hand drum” or simply “drum.”

Lyre (source: Knowles, revised by Bass (c) British and Foreign Bible Society 1994)

Quoted with permission.

acrostic in Psalm 145

The Hebrew text of Psalms 9/10, 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, and 145 uses acrostics, a literary form in which each verse is started with one of the successive 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. According to Brenda Boerger (in Open Theology 2016, p. 179ff. ) there are three different reasons for acrostics in the Hebrew text: “for ease of memorization,” the representation “of the full breadth and depth of a topic, all the way from aleph to taw (tav),” and the perception of “the acrostic form as aesthetically attractive.” (p. 191)

While most translations mention the existence of an acrostic in a note or a comment, few implement it in their translation. The Natügu translation is one such exception. Boerger (see above) cites a strong tradition in singing the psalms and the fact that Natügu, like Hebrew, also has 22 possible initial letters as motivating factors to maintain the acrostics in that language.

Click or tap here for the complete psalm in Natügu

1 Awi-zvzbo bam mz nzglqpx-krnge nim,
Murde nim Gct rnge x mnclzbo bam.
2 Bilvzx nim mz nzawi-krbo bam.
X sa naglqpx-zvzx nim mz zbq kang kqlu.
3 Clveq nrlc mz zmatq ngrm kx trpnzngr kxrkrlz.
Yawe, myatxlz-esz’ngrn x takitrde nzrglqlzngr nim.
4 Doa nemqng sa nayapwxti-zvzbzlr mz doa nedrng,
Da kcng tqetuting tqmatq tqaletiqng.
5 Eu, x sa na-aoti-zvz-kzx drtwrnge nzwz-krmqng kxmrlzvxing,
X nzetu-esz’ngr-krm mz zmatq.
6 Gct, sa nayapwxtipx leplz da kxnzkctipxng kcng tqwz-ngrn.
X sa napipxx nzmyalz-esz’ngr-krm.
7-8 Ipq-aniq leplz murde yc mz drtwrm nidr.
Murde nivz lrm x nzaodu-krm tqyc tqyc.
Jzsiq leplz mz nztubqngr x sa na-angrlvzlr nim.
Sa nalepxlr nrpa ngr nzmrlz-esz’ngr-krm.
9 Kxetu, mrlztiq leplz amrlx,
X yc zlwz mz drtwrm doa amrlx kcng tqwz-ngrn.
10 Leplz nemqng amrlx sa na-awibzng bam,
X doa amrlx kcng tqwz-ngrn sa naglqlzlr nim.
11 Mz nrlc tulvzo, sa nayapwxtipxlr nzmyalz-esz’ngr-krm,
X nzetukr zmatq ngrm mz nzngini-krm king.
12 Nrpa ngr nzwz-krmqng etu, mz da kxmrlzting kcng tqwz-ngrn mz nzaclve-krm,
Sa nakrlz leplz amrlx.
13 Obqom mz nrlc mz nzaclve-krm kc tqyc tqyc,
X nzngini-krm king tqvzpe tqvzpe.
Pipx-zvzq natq kx na-angidatiq,
X aelwapx-zvzq nivz lrm mz da amrlx kcng tqaleq.
14 Rngiscm zmatq kx okatrle leplz kcng tzkxpung,
X axplrle nabz leplz kcng tqtalvzo.
15 Sa narkabzme dakxnzng mz kxnzlung amrlx,
Mz nzmnc-xgle-krdr nim mz da amrlx.
16 Tekqtrq nzbrtale-krdr mz nzakrlc-krbzme nelzdr,
X drtwrdr esatxpx zpwx.
17 Vz zvz nzale-krm da kx tubq-esz’ngr,
X aelwapx-zvzq nivz lrm mz da amrlx kcng tqaleq.
18 Wxbu-aepztrpzme mz krkcng tzkqlelr nim,
Mz nzbrti-zpwxkr drtwrdr nim.
19 Xlrq nzyrnikr leplz kcng tzamrluelr nim,
X ayzlubzme natqdr mz nzarlapx-krm nidr.
20 Yawe, tu-zvzbzme mz nibr leplz kx nzmrlztilr nim,
A’ odati-atwrnr-ngrn kxdrka’-ngrng.
21 Zbq kalvz sa naglqlzx nim.
X krkcng tzlung tqwz-ngrn, nzangio-krdr nim tqvzpe tqvzpe.

© 2008, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Danish Bibelen på Hverdagsdansk (publ. 1985, rev. 2015 et al.) also translated Psalm 145 into an acrostic. Due to the higher number of Danish letters, It skips C, Q, W, X, Z, and Ø.

Click or tap here for the complete psalm in Danish

1 Altid vil jeg prise dig, Herre,
du er min Konge og Gud for evigt.
2 Bestandig vil jeg synge til din ære,
takke dig hver eneste dag.
3 Der er ingen så mægtig som dig, Herre,
ingen kan fatte din storhed.
4 En generation skal fortælle det videre til den næste,
at dine underfulde gerninger er uden sidestykke.
5 Folk skal fortælle om din herlighed og magt,
og jeg vil altid mindes dine undere.
6 Gang på gang bliver dine gerninger berømmet,
jeg vil fortælle om din storhed igen og igen.
7 Hvor er din godhed dog stor,
din retfærdighed bliver husket med glæde.
8 Ingen er nådig og barmhjertig som dig,
du er tålmodig og utrolig trofast.
9 Jeg ved, at du er god mod alle,
barmhjertig mod alle dine skabninger.
10 Kan mennesker gøre andet end takke dig, Herre?
Dine tjenere vil altid lovprise dig.
11 Lad os altid tale om dit riges herlighed,
fortælle om din vældige magt.
12 Mennesker i hele verden skal høre om din magt,
om dit riges strålende herlighed.
13 Når alt andet forgår, vil dit rige bestå.
Du skal regere i evighed.
Ord fra dig kan man stole på,
dine handlinger viser din nåde imod os.
14 På livets vej kan vi synke i knæ,
men du rejser os op, når vi falder.
15 Retter vi vores blik mod dig i tro,
vil du altid give os det, vi har brug for.
16 Så snart et menneske erkender sit behov,
er du straks parat til at opfylde det.
17 Trofasthed og retfærdighed kendes du på,
dine handlinger er baseret på kærlighed.
18 Uden undtagelse hjælper du alle,
som beder til dig af et oprigtigt hjerte.
19 Vælger mennesker at følge dig,
vil du redde dem, når de råber om hjælp.
20 Ærligt troende oplever din beskyttelse,
men de onde går deres undergang i møde.
21 År efter år vil jeg prise dig, Herre,
måtte alt levende lovsynge dig for evigt.

Copyright © 1985, 1992, 2005, 2013, 2015 by Biblica, Inc.®

There are two Dutch translations that maintain the acrostic: Naardense Bijbel (publ. 2004) and the Tot Lof van God by Frans Croese (publ. 2010).

Click or tap here for the complete psalm in the Dutch translations

Naardense Bijbel:

1
Alleluia, ik dank de Ene van ganser harte, ✡
binnen de kring der oprechten,
een samenkomst;
2
groot zijn de daden van de Ene, ✡
doorvorsbaar
voor elk met behagen daarin;
3
en glans en luister straalt van zijn werk, ✡
fleur houdt zijn gerechtigheid
voor altijd;
4
genadig en barmhartig is de Ene, ✡
hij doet zijn wonderen voorgoed gedenken;
5
indachtig is hij voor eeuwig zijn verbond, ✡
ja, wie hem vrezen gaf hij teerkost; de
6
kracht van zijn daden
heeft hij zijn gemeente gemeld; ✡
leende hun
het erfdeel van volkeren;
7
machtig zijn zijn handen in trouw en recht, ✡
nooit onbetrouwbaar zijn
al zijn inzettingen;
8
ondersteund voor altijd en eeuwig, ✡
product
van trouw en oprechtheid;
9
redding, loskoop zond hij zijn gemeente,
sloot voor eeuwig zijn verbond, ✡
te vrezen en heilig is zijn naam!-
10
vreze voor de Ene
      is het beginsel van wijsheid,
weg tot goed inzicht
voor wie daarnaar dóen; ✡
zijn lof
blijft staande voor altíjd!

Tot Lof van God translation:

Een lofdicht, op naam van David.

Als de ware Koning, zo wil ik U verhogen, mijn God,
zegenen wil ik Uw naam voor altijd en eeuwig.
2
Bij voortduring wil ik U zegenen, iedere dag weer,
loven wil ik Uw naam voor altijd en eeuwig.
3
Dat omdat Jehovah groots en zeer te loven is,
Zijn grootsheid is onpeilbaar.
4
En daarom prijst men Uw daden van geslacht op geslacht,
verhaalt men van Uw machtige daden.
5
Flonkerend in luister en pracht is Uw majesteit,
details over Uw wonderen verkondig ik graag.
6
Geweldig zijn Uw geduchte daden waarover men spreekt
– van Uw grootse daden wil ik vertellen –
7
herinneringen aan veel van Uw goedheid halen zij op,
over Uw rechtvaardigheid juichen zij.
8
Inderdaad, goedgunstig en barmhartig, dat is Jehovah,
geduldig en groots in loyale goedheid.
9
Jehovah is goed jegens allen,
met daarbij Zijn barmhartigheid, kenmerkend voor al Zijn werken.
10
Komen al Uw werken U werkelijk prijzen, Jehovah,
Uw loyalen zullen U zegenen.
11
Laten zij de heerlijkheid van Uw koninkrijk aanzeggen,
Uw grote macht bespreken.
12
Mogen zij Zijn machtige daden aan de mensen bekendmaken,
en de luister en pracht van Zijn koninkrijk.
13
Niet alleen dat, Uw koninkrijk is een koninkrijk voor alle tijden,
Uw heerschappij is voor alle achtereenvolgende geslachten.

14
Prachtig, Jehovah pakt allen stevig vast die vallen,
allen die gebukt gaan richt Hij weer op.
15
Reikhalzend zien aller ogen daarom naar U uit,
U bent het die hun te rechter tijd hun voedsel verschaft.
16
Stellig, U opent Uw hand
en verzadigt het verlangen van een ieder die leeft.
17
Terecht heet Jehovah ‘rechtvaardig in al Zijn wegen’,
in al Zijn werken is Hij loyaal.
18
Uit dien hoofde is Jehovah nabij allen die Hem aanroepen,
allen die Hem aan blijven roepen in waarachtigheid.
19
Vervullen zal Hij het verlangen van hen die hem vrezen,
Hij luistert naar hun hulpgeschreeuw en zal hen redden.
20
Waken zal Jehovah over een ieder die Hem liefheeft,
waar Hij alle wettelozen weg zal vagen.
21
Zo zal mijn mond Jehovah’s lof spreken.
Alle vlees zal Zijn heilige naam zegenen,
en dat voor altijd en eeuwig!

With thanks to Thamara van Eijzeren

The English Bible translation by Ronald Knox (publ. 1950) maintains almost every Hebrew acrostic (even though Knox’s translation itself is based on the Latin text of the Vulgate rather than the Hebrew). Due to the higher number of letters in the English alphabet, it skips the letter K, X, Y, and Z. (Click or tap here for the complete psalm in Knox’s translation.)

1 And shall I not extol thee, my God, my king; shall I not bless thy name for ever and for evermore?
2 Blessing shall be thine, day after day; for ever and for evermore praised be thy name.
3 Can any praise be worthy of the Lord’s majesty, any thought set limits to his greatness?
4 Down the ages the story of thy deeds is told, thy power is ever acclaimed;
5 each magnifies thy unapproachable glory, makes known thy wonders.
6 Fearful are the tales they tell of thy power, proclaiming thy magnificence;
7 grateful their memory of all thy goodness, as they boast of thy just dealings.
8 How gracious the Lord is, how merciful, how patient, how rich in pity!
9 Is he not a loving Lord to his whole creation; does not his mercy reach out to all that he has made?
10 Joining, then, Lord, in thy whole creation’s praise, let thy faithful servants bless thee;
11 let them publish the glory of thy kingdom, and discourse of thy power,
12 making that power known to the race of men, the glory, the splendour of that kingdom!
13 No age shall dawn but shall see thee reigning still; generations pass, and thy rule shall endure. O how true the Lord is to all his promises, how gracious in all his dealings!
14 Prostrate though men may fall, the Lord will lift them up, will revive their crushed spirits.
15 Quietly, Lord, thy creatures raise their eyes to thee, and thou grantest them, in due time, their nourishment,
16 Ready to open thy hand, and fill with thy blessing all that lives.
17 So faithful the Lord is in all he does, so gracious in all his dealings.
18 The Lord draws near to every man that calls upon him, will he but call upon him with a true heart.
19 Utter but the wish, you that fear the Lord, and he will grant it, will hear the cry, and bring aid.
20 Vigilantly the Lord watches over all that love him, marks down the wicked for destruction.
21 While these lips tell of the Lord’s praise, let all that lives bless his holy name, for ever, and for evermore. (Source )

Another English translation that keeps an acrostic for this psalm is the EasyEnglish Bible (publ. 2018), skipping Q, U, X, and Z.

1 Always I will praise you, my God and my king,
      and I will say how great you are!
2 Because you are good, I will praise you every day.
      Yes, I will always praise your name.
3 Clearly the Lord is great!
      He is so great that we cannot understand it.
4 Down from father to son, people will praise you.
      They will tell each other about the powerful things that you have done.
5 Everyone will speak about your glory and authority.
      I also will think carefully about your great miracles.
6 Famous are the powerful things that you have done.
      People will talk about them.
      I also will speak about the great things that you do.
7 Good things are what everybody will remember about you.
      They will sing about your justice.
8 How very kind the Lord is!
      He is very patient and his faithful love continues.
9 It is the Lord who takes care of everybody.
      He is kind to everything that he has made.
10 Join together to thank the Lord!
      Everything that he has made will praise him.
      Your own people will praise you, Lord!
11 King is who you are and your kingdom is great!
      People will speak about your royal authority.
12 Let everyone agree that you do great things!
      Let them say that you rule with great authority.
13 Many years your kingdom will remain, even for ever.
      You will always rule your people and their descendants.
Nothing that the Lord promises is false.
      He is kind in everything that he does.
14 Often people fall, but the Lord lifts them up.
      He helps everyone who has trouble.
15 People look to you for help.
      You give them food when they need it.
16 Ready to help, you open your hand.
      You give to every living thing the good things that they want.
17 So the Lord is fair in all that he does.
      He always shows how much he loves us.
18 The Lord is ready to help everyone who asks him.
      He is near to everyone who prays honestly.
19 Very kindly he gives his own people the things that they need.
      He saves them when they call to him for help.
20 Whoever loves the Lord, he keeps safe.
      But he destroys wicked people.
21 Yes, I will praise the Lord!
      Everyone who lives should praise his holy name for ever!

Scripture quotations are from the EasyEnglish Bible Copyright © MissionAssist 2019 – Charitable Incorporated Organisation 1162807. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Another English translation that maintains the acrostic is by Gordon Jackson (The Lincoln Psalter, 1997). (Click or tap here for the complete psalm in Jackson’s translation)

Allworthy God, I honour you as my king,
      and as long as I have breath it will praise your name;
Be my days many or few, each one will bless you,
      each one be a holy day as I give it to you;
Can anyone overpraise the Lord,
      can anyone exaggerate his greatness?
Don’t his miracles simply astonish us,
      don’t witnesses find it hard to make others believe in them?
Essentially my theme is one and the same,
      your glory that is hidden in private knowledge;
For all that your public displays of saving power
      fill men with awe and profitable fear,
Grateful and humble hearts keep their gladness close
      and treasure the infinite goodness you graced them with.
He is gracious, they know, he is considerate,
      he is patient, he is kind beyond compare;
Isn’t he everyone’s God, and his love
      available to all his beloved creatures?
Justly, О Lord, your creatures who know you praise you,
      rightly they find in you a blessing each day;
Let them enlarge their language to talk of your glory,
      let them tell their own tale,
Making no bones about what they know of you,
      you and your Majesty, you and your dearest Mercy;
Not to diminish with anger, not to decline with age,
      no, your goodness is faultless, and your mercy is perfect.
Oh how true to his word he is, how reliable;
      once he has given a promise then count it fulfilled;
Perhaps you will trip, maybe fall, he will help you up;
      perhaps be depressed, he will help you get out of it.
Quail they do not who look to you, Lord, in hope,
      and sure enough you stead them in your season,
Ready and bountiful and providential
      you give your living creatures what they need.
See if he isn’t just in all his ways,
      see if he isn’t true to his every word;
Try him and see, come close as you dare to him,
      and if you are straight with him he will show you his love.
Up to your eyes in worry, just ask for his help;
      be honest with him, be frank, and he will respect you.
Vicious and oily souls have good cause to fear him,
      but those who respect him he will account his own.
Which is why I have good reason to praise the Lord,
      and why we should all bless his name for ever and ever.

And lastly, Brenda Boerger (2024) translated this psalm while maintaining the acrostic (click or tap here for the complete psalm in Boerger’s translation).

1 Adonai, King, I adore you,
 And HaShem acclaim forever;
2 Bow in worship for all you do,
 Blessing ever who you are.
3 Can your craftings be quantified?
 Clearly all acclaim must be yours.
 Deeds you do leave us mystified;
 Deep, delightful are your ways.
4 Each enlightens his descendants,
 Expresses your mighty actions.
5 Focusing upon your splendors,
 Fuels reflections on your works.
 God, it’s you whom I will study —
 Greatness, glory eternally,
6 How your works exhibit power.
 Holy acts you do each hour.
 I proclaim your immensity;
7 Intone anthems without pausing,
 Jump for joy, Lord, for you’re causing
 Justice to reign with purity.
8 King’s complete in mercies, graces,
 Kindly, he does keep his temper.
9 Lord God’s love reaches all races,
 Limitlessly, flows forever.
10 Majesty, your works commend you —
 Master, we too magnify you.
 No one now neglects to serve you,
 Numbering blessings — all you do.
11 Openly, they honor your name,
 Odes to you, your outstanding reign,
 Proclaim praises, hour by hour and
 Profess now your splendor, power.
12 Quite so, all learn of your splendor;
 Quake because you’re very mighty.
13 Revered Lord, your rule’ s forever.
 Redeemer’s word is trustworthy.
14 Sustainer of those who stumble,
 Supporter of souls who’re brought low,
15 To you, in faith, those who’re humble,
 Turn for food, today, tomorrow.
16 Unfailingly you’re unstinting,
 Undergird lives of the living.
17 Verily, you have great virtue.
 Vast love’s voiced whate’er you do.
18 Wise one, you watch those who’re pleading,
 Witness vows of those believing,
19 Execute prayers of exalters!
 Extricate those at your altars!
20 You protect all those who love you,
 Yet destroy the wicked ones too.
21 Zestfully let’s praise Creator;
 Zealous, praise HaShem forever.
 Ho’ o-ho’o-Ho’ osana. Hale-hale-hallelu-Yah.
 Ho’ o-ho’ o-Ho’ osana. Hale-hale-hallelu-Yah.

Another published English translation with acrostics is The Psalms Chronologically Arranged by the “Four Friends” (C.T. Arnold, A.W. Potts, F.E. Kitchener, S. Philpotts) of 1870.

Another 19th century translation with maintained acrostics is the German 1883 commentary and translation by Franz Delitzsch . Unlike the other translations, he translates the acrostics of this and the other acrostic psalms by following an approximation of the German sound of the 22 letters (alef/א‎ = a; bet/ב‎ = b; gimel/ג‎ = g; dalet/ד = d; he/ה‎ = h; vav/ו = u; zayin/ז‎ = s; chet/ח‎ = h; tet/ט = t; yod/י‎ = i or j; kaf/כ = k; lamed/ל = l; mem/מ = m; nun/נ = n; samech/ס‎ = s; ayin/ע = e; pe/פ = f; tsadi/צ‎ = z; qof/ק = k; resh/ר = r; shin/ש‎ = sch; tav/ת = t).