complete verse (Psalm 105:38)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 105:38:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “The land of Egypt rejoiced when they left,
    for the danger of Israel befell them.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Seeing them the Egyptians were afraid,
    when they went out the Egyptians rejoiced.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “The ones-from-Egypt (were) glad when the Israelites left, because they (were) afraid of them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The people of Egypt were rejoicing when they went,
    because great fear from people of Israel came on them.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Wamisri wakafurahi kuondoka waisraeli,
    kwa maana hofu iliwashika, waliogopa.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “The people of Egypt were glad when the Israeli people left,
    because they had become very afraid of the Israelis.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 105:37 - 105:38

In this strophe (verses 37-42) the psalmist recounts the departure of the Israelites from Egypt and some of the events during the forty years’ wandering in the wilderness. As they left they carried with them silver and gold jewelry and ornaments gotten from the Egyptians (see Exo 3.21-22; 11.2; 12.35-36). Their physical well-being is described: “no one among his tribes stumbled” (see Revised Standard Version). In translating silver and gold it should be clear to the reader that the text is talking about jewelry and ornaments, not bars of silver and of gold. And should the word tribes as a subdivision of the whole group be difficult to represent, a translation may imitate Good News Translation. In order to keep the possessive his (tribes), the translation can be “Then the LORD led his people out….”

In verse 38 Good News Translation has reversed the order of the lines to put first the cause (fear; see Exo 1.12) and second the effect (gladness). But the order of the Hebrew may be maintained:

• The Egyptians were glad when they left,
because they were afraid of the Israelites.

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 .