complete verse (Psalm 109:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 109:2:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “for wicked and fraudulent people
    have opened their mouth to oppose me,
    they have spoken in opposition against me with lying tongues.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Evil people and people who say false things
    have come to quarrel with me.
    They say false things about me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “For the wicked and deceitful people/men are-accusing me.
    They speak lies about me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “for bad people insulted me,
    they opened their mouths in matters that they mistreated me,
    they said false matters about me.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “kwa maana watu wabaya na wadanganyifu wananisemea uongo,
    wananisemea mimi ya uongo.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “because wicked people slander me
    and tell lies about me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 109:1 - 109:3

The psalmist begins with a prayer that God not keep quiet or remain inactive in response to his pleas, but that he take action against his enemies (see 28.1; 83.1). O God of my praise means “O God, whom I praise.” Be not silent may have to be recast positively in some languages to say, for example, “God, please do something” or “Answer my plea, God.”

The psalmist’s enemies are wicked; with no reason for doing so, they lie and say evil things about the psalmist (verses 2-3); see similar language in 69.4. In verse 2 the Hebrew has mouths as the subject; it is better to speak of people who accuse and revile the psalmist; and in line b the expression lying tongues can be represented by “liars” or “they tell lies,” instead of Good News Translation “have attacked me,” which may be taken to mean physical assault. A better translation, for example, may be “… say bad things about me” or “… slander me.”

In verse 3 words of hate can be translated “hateful words”; Good News Translation “evil things” is not adequate, since the same Hebrew word “hatred” is used also in verse 5b, and the verb beset means surround, encircle.

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 .