joy

Click here to view graphically

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 (Psalm 107:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 107:22:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Let them give a sacrifice of gratitude
    and explain about his works with joyful songs.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Having offered sacrifices, may they give Him thanks.
    And may they describe all the work that He has done
    by singing hymns of joy.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “They should make-an-offering/sacrifice as a thanksgiving to God;
    and while they sing for joy they will-tell/declare his deeds.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You let them give the things of sacrifice to God, thanks,
    and they tell about his works in songs of happiness.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Wamtolee dhabihu za kushukuru,
    waimbe matendo yake na furaha.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “They should give offerings to him to show that they are thankful,
    and they should sing joyfully about the miracles that he has performed.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

work(s) (of God) (Japanese honorifics)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. When the referent is God, the “divine” honorific prefix mi- (御 or み) can be used, as in mi-ude (みわざ) or “work (of God)” in the referenced verses.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Psalm 107:20 - 107:22

The use of the verb healed in verse 20 shows that the people in this strophe are sick as a result of their sins. Yahweh’s spoken command is literally he sent forth his word. That word healed them and delivered them. He sent forth his word indicates an action, whereas Good News Translation “with his command” serves as an instrumental phrase. In many languages it will be better to recast the speaking and the healing and say, for example, “he spoke and they were healed” or “the word which he spoke healed them.” The verb delivered (Good News Translation “saved”) here is the same as the one used in 41.1b and is different from the ones used in verses 6 and 9. Destruction in line b translates a word whose form and meaning are in doubt; but most commentators take it to mean “their pits,” a synonym for Sheol. Most translations have either “the grave” or “death.” New English Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, and New Jerusalem Bible follow an emended text which means “(he saved) their lives from the abyss.” The expression delivered them from destruction (“saved them from the grave”) will have to be adjusted in some languages to say “he did not let them die” or “he kept them alive.”

Verse 21 is exactly like verse 15.

Sacrifices of thanksgiving refers to offerings which expressed the gratitude of the people. Verse 22 specifies that such sacrifices should be offered (see “Sacrifice” in 40.6), as the healed worshipers joyfully proclaim in the Temple what Yahweh has done for them. In the Masoretic text, in the margin of verses 21-26 and of verse 40, there is an inverted letter nun. There is no certain knowledge of the meaning of this. Some take it as an indication that the verses are out of place (see Kautzsch-Cowley).

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 .