complete verse (Psalm 115:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 115:5:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “They have mouths but they do not speak,
    they have eyes but they do not see;” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “They have mouths but cannot speak.
    they have eyes but cannot see.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “These have mouths, but can- not -speak;
    (they) have eyes, but can- not -see.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “They have mouths, but instead they do not know how to talk,
    they have eyes, and they do not see.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Iko na midomo, lakini haisemi,
    iko na macho, lakini haioni.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Their idols have mouths, but they cannot say anything;
    they have eyes, but they cannot see anything.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 115:3 - 115:7

The power of the invisible God of Israel is contrasted with the weakness of the gods of the Gentile nations, who are lifeless, powerless, ineffective.

In verse 3 the psalmist proclaims Yahweh as the all-powerful God in the heavens, who does whatever he pleases; his will is supreme, his power is limitless.

The “gods” of the heathen are only idols that people manufacture; they are objects made of silver and gold (verse 4). Their idols stands in sharp contrast to Our God in the previous verse, and in some languages it may be necessary to mark the contrast. They have no life in them, no power to act, no feeling (verses 5-7); see a similar passage in 135.15-17. Since verse 5a describes the idols’ inability to speak, it may be that in verse 7c they do not make a sound in their throat means that there is no breath going in and out of their windpipe; they do not breathe, they are dead (as the different language in 135.17b means). But no translation consulted gives this meaning. (As commentaries point out, this extra line in verse 7 departs from the pattern used and repeats, so it seems, the thought of verse 5a. It looks like a later addition to the text.)

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 .