mercy

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, Ge’ez, and Latin terms that are typically translated as “mercy” (or “compassion” or “kindness”) in English are translated in various ways. Bratcher / Nida classify them in (1) those based on the quality of heart, or other psychological center, (2) those which introduce the concept of weeping or extreme sorrow, (3) those which involve willingness to look upon and recognize the condition of others, or (4) those which involve a variety of intense feelings.

While the English mercy originates from the Latin merces, originally “price paid,” Romance languages (Italian, Spanish, Corsican, Catalan, Friulian) and other Germanic languages (German, Swedish, Danish — Barmherzigkeit, barmhärtighet and barmhjertighed, respectively) tend to follow the Latin misericordia, lit. “misery-heart.”

Here are some other (back-) translations:

See also steadfast love and Seat of the Mind / Seat of Emotions.

complete verse (Psalm 109:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 109:12:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Let there be completely no one who would be kind-hearted to him
    or feeling sorry for his orphaned children.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “May no one even have mercy on him.
    May no one even show kindness to his orphaned sons and daughters.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “May-it-be that no-one take-pity/have-compassion on him and on his fatherless children when he dies.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You would give any person not to be merciful to him,
    would you give any person not to be merciful to his sons,
    who do not have their father.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Asiwepo mtu wa kumhurumia,
    au wa kuwaonea huruma watoto wake yatima.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Cause that while he is still living no one will be kind to him,
    and after he dies, cause that no one will pity his children.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 109:11 - 109:13

The prayer continues in the same mood; the psalmist hopes that after his enemy’s death “his creditors” (or the creditor), that is, the people or the person he owed money to, will come and take possession of all his belongings. And in the next line (verse 11b) even strangers are to get “everything he worded for” (Hebrew the fruits of his toil). For an example of the power of creditors, see 2 Kings 4.1.

In verse 12a kindness translates chesed (see 5.7), which usually is an attribute of God, “constant love.” In verse 12b the verb “to have pity” may have the active sense of “be kind to,” “be concerned about.”

Not only does the psalmist pray for his enemy’s death, but also for the death of his descendants, so that the family line will disappear (verse 13). For similar language see 9.5. In verse 13b the Masoretic text has “their name,” that is, the name of his descendants (verse 13a); many Hebrew manuscripts and the Septuagint have his name, which is preferred by Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy. New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, and New English Bible follow the Masoretic text. Either reading makes good sense. The second generation means the one following the generation of the man himself; so Good News Translation “the next generation.” In languages which do not use the passive, it will be necessary to adjust the expression “may his name be forgotten…” to say, for example, “may the people in the next generation forget about him,” or negatively, “… not remember who he was.”

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 .