straight / vertical

In Gbaya, the notion of being straight or vertical is emphasized in the referenced verses with the ideophone zééŋ (or: zéŋ).

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

complete verse (Psalm 107:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 107:7:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “He led them in the straight path
    going to the city where they settled.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “God took them directly to a city
    where they would be able to live.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “He led them by a direct road/path/way to a city where there-were people dwelling.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “And then, he took them in the right way,
    which goes to the city where they would live.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Akawaongoza katika njia nzuri,
    kufika katika mji wa kukaa.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “He led them along a straight road where they walked safely
    to cities in Canaan where they could live.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 107:7 - 107:9

In verse 7b the same phrase “a city of dwelling” is used, as in verse 4b. Those who translate it here, as there, “an inhabited city,” see this primarily as a reference to Canaan, with its towns and cities, after the years of wandering in the wilderness (see New Jerusalem Bible). In verse 7a the meaning can be expressed by “He led them directly” or “He led them on a road that went straight to….”

Verse 8 is repeated in exactly the same words in verses 15, 21, and 31. It is a command expressed in the third person form. The wonderful works of Yahweh are the mighty deeds, the miracles through which Yahweh saved them (see 9.1 for comments on the root verb). The Hebrew phrase the sons of men usually means all of humankind (see 11.4), so here the meaning may be quite general, “what Yahweh does for people”; or it may refer specifically to the people who are the subject of this strophe (so Kirkpatrick; see Anderson). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “Now you must thank the Lord for his benefits, praise him for your wonderful deliverance.”

In verse 9 him who is thirsty translates “the longing nefesh,” which New Jerusalem Bible takes to mean “hungry”; most take it to mean thirsty. The hungry in verse 9b translates “the hungry nefesh.” Instead of the singular “the one who is thirsty and the one who is hungry,” Good News Translation has used the plural forms, “those who are thirsty … the hungry,” to avoid the possibility of misunderstanding the text to refer to one person. Good things here means food. In some languages it will be necessary to be more specific in both verse 9a and 9b; for example, “he gives water to those who are thirsty and food to the hungry.”

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 .