soul

The Hebrew, Greek, Ge’ez, and Latin that is translated as “soul” in English is translated in Chol with a term that refers to the invisible aspects of human beings (source: Robert Bascom), in Yagaria with oune or “shadow, reflection” (source: Renck, p. 81), and in Elhomwe as “heart” (source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext).

The Mandarin Chinese línghún (靈魂 / 灵魂), literally “spirit-soul,” is often used for “soul” (along with xīn [心] or “heart”). This is a term that was adopted from Buddhist sources into early Catholic writings and later also by Protestant translators. (Source: Zetzsche 1996, p. 32, see also Clara Ho-yan Chan in this article )

In Chichewa, moyo means both “soul” and “life.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

See also heart, soul, mind.

forget

The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “forget” in English is translated in Noongar as dwangka-anbangbat, lit. “ear-lose.” (Source: Portions of the Holy Bible in the Nyunga language of Australia, 2018).

See also remember and forget (Japanese honorifics).

joy

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The Greek, Latin, Ge’ez, and Hebrew that is translated with “joy” or “gladness” in English is translated with various strategies:

  • Baoulé: “a song in the stomach” (see also peace (inner peace))
  • Bambara: “the spirit is made sweet”
  • Kpelle: “sweet heart”
  • Tzeltal: “the good taste of one’s heart”
  • Uduk: “good to the stomach”
  • Mískito: “the liver is wide open” (“happily letting the pleasures flooding in upon it”) (source for this and above: Nida 1952)
  • Mairasi: “good liver” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
  • Noongar: koort-kwabba-djil or “heart very good” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Chicahuaxtla Triqui: “refreshed heart” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.).
  • Hausa Common Language Bible: farin ciki or “white stomach.” Other languages that use the same expression include Southern Birifor (pʋpɛl), Dera (popolok awo), Reshe (ɾipo ɾipuhã). (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

See also Seat of the Mind for traditional views of “ways of knowing, thinking, and feeling,” happiness / joy, and exceeding joy.

complete verse (Lamentations 3:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Lamentations 3:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “He stripped me of peace
    and I do not know what happiness is.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Peace has gone far from my life;
    I have forgotten what happiness is.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He took from me the good situation, and I no longer experienced abundance.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Things no longer go well for me;
    I no longer remember being prosperous.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Lamentations 3:17

In the next four verses the reader gets a glimpse of the poet’s inner feelings. Verse 17 begins a transition that builds toward the hope the speaker still retains.

My soul is bereft of peace is literally “You cast off peace from my soul.” The sense of “cast off” is “reject.” However, the form of the verb can have as subject “you (singular)” or “she.” Taken as “you” the reference would be to the LORD, as direct address. Understood as “she” the reference would be to soul, which is feminine in Hebrew. However, “My soul (meaning ‘I’) rejects peace” does not give suitable sense. Some interpreters change the Hebrew slightly to get a passive construction, and so Revised Standard Version has my soul is bereft (deprived) of peace. Bible en français courant follows the Septuagint: “He has deprived me of a peaceful life.” The Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommendations do not show how peace is related to the rest of the sentence. The Handbook recommends following Revised Standard Version but in a reworded form; for example, “My soul has (that is, I have) been deprived of peace” or, as an active construction, “You have taken peace away from me.”

Peace here translates the Hebrew shalom, which refers to more than just the end or the absence of fighting. It covers a wider range of meaning, such as security, peace, health, and prosperity. Note that Good News Translation uses “health and peace” for the translation of shalom.

I have forgotten what happiness is: forgotten is used idiomatically here, because the poet does not mean that he literally has forgotten, but rather that he has gone so long without happiness, it is as though it has left his memory. In some languages the equivalent expression can be, for example, “Happiness left me so long ago, I cannot catch it” or “I have not known happiness for so long I forget what it is like.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on Lamentations. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 3:17

3:17a My soul has been deprived of peace;

I cannot find peace (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Things no longer go well for me. (Translation for Translators)

3:17b I have forgotten what prosperity is.

or remember happiness. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I’ve forgotten what good times are like. (New International Reader’s Version)
-or-
It has been so very long since I was happy.

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