The Hebrew, Greek, and Ge’ez that is translated as “the poor” in English is translated in Chichewa as “people without power.” In Chichewa context this refers to those who are in the lower class in terms of both social status and political influence in a community. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
In Cherokee it is translated as “those who are not doing well.” “The concept of poverty was unknown to Cherokee prior to European arrival due to the sharing of resources among clan members and the shared and welfare tradition known as gadugi (ᎦᏚᎩ). In contrast, the concepts of rich and poor play a large role in the world and message or the New Testament (…) This phrase (‘those who are not doing well’), still used today for ‘poor,’ speaks to a more general understanding of well-being than the presence of monetary resources.” (Source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 45)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 109:22:
Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
“For I am afflicted and needy,
and my heart is hurting inside me.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
Newari:
“I am poor, I am one who is needy.
Within me my heart is wounded.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon:
“For I (am) lowly and poor, and my feelings hurt.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
Laarim:
“Because I am poor, and suffer,
and my heart is full of pain.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
“Kwa maana mimi ni mnyonge niko maskini,
nimeumizwa mpaka katika moyo wangu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
English:
“I ask you to do this because I am poor and needy
and my inner being is full of pain/very troubled/discouraged.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
In verse 20 the psalmist, in summary, asks the LORD to punish his enemies with all the misfortunes listed in verses 6-19. Some translations attach this verse to the end of the preceding strophe (Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy); Good News Translation, New International Version, Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant, New American Bible connect it to what follows; Traduction œcuménique de la Bible separates it from both. Perhaps it is better to join it to verse 19 as the summary of the preceding verses.
Good News Translation uses the second person of address to God, consistently with the second person in the next verse. Accusers in line a translates the same word used in verse 6b. It should be noted that Revised Standard Version‘s placing of from the LORD may make it appear that it goes with accusers; of course it goes with the reward.
In verse 20b Good News Translation “against me” translates “against my nefesh”; Revised Standard Versionagainst my life is an unnatural, literal rendition of the Hebrew.
In verse 21 GOD my Lord translates the unusual “Yahweh, my Lord”–the divine name and the title; for thy name’s sake (Good News Translation “as you have promised”), see 23.3 and comments. In the last line of verse 21, thy steadfast love is good is a rather unusual statement; something like “because of your love and your goodness” or “because you are good and you love me” may be a good translation (see New Jerusalem Bible “Good and faithful as You are”). Deliver translates the verb used in 7.1.
In verse 22b Good News Translation “I am hurt” translates the verb “to be pierced” (see New Jerusalem Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Dahood); this means distress, anguish, emotional turmoil and pain. The ancient versions presuppose another Hebrew verb, “to writhe (in pain),” which Briggs prefers.
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 .
The following are presentations by the Psalms: Layer by Layer project, run by Scriptura . The first is an overview and the second an introduction into the exegesis of Psalm 95.
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