complete verse (Psalm 116:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 116:11:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “And when I was in my worry I said,
    ‘All the people are liars.’” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Losing hope I said, "These people are all liars."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “In my fear I said, ‘No man/person at-all (is) trustworthy.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “And when I worried, I said that,
    ‘All people are liars.’” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Niliongea wakati niko na hofu, nilisema,
    ‘Watu wote wadanganyifu.’” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Even when I was distressed/worried and said, ‘I cannot trust anyone,’
    I continued to trust in Yahweh.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 116:10 - 116:11

In the Septuagint and Vulgate verse 10 marks the beginning of another psalm.

In verses 10-11 the psalmist tells how through all his trials and miseries he had not lost his faith. There is considerable difference of opinion over the form and meaning of verse 10 in the Masoretic text. New American Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, and Weiser agree with Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. But New English Bible has “I was sure I should be swept away, and my distress was bitter”; New Jerusalem Bible is “I trust [in the LORD]; out of great suffering I spoke.” The Septuagint translates verse 10a “I believed, and so I spoke,” which is how the passage is quoted in 2 Corinthians 4.13. Here, as elsewhere, New International Version disregards the context of the Hebrew passage in order to make it conform verbally with the way in which the Septuagint version of the passage is quoted in the New Testament. Such a practice is dictated by a particular doctrinal view of Scripture, not by sound scholarly principles. In both verses I said may be translated “I thought to myself.” The psalmist was not necessarily talking to someone.

The object of the psalmist’s faith, of course, was the LORD; and some translations will need to make this explicit (as Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch does, “I have trusted the Lord”). I am greatly afflicted is rendered by Good News Translation‘s idiom “I am … crushed.” In many languages it will be necessary to say “I suffer pains,” but in some languages “pain” serves as an agent in such expressions as “pain took hold of me” or “pain would not give me rest.”

Verse 11 reveals how disillusioned the psalmist became with all human help: “Everyone is false!” he declared, by which he meant “No one can be trusted” (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant). New Jerusalem Bible has “All men are false,” and Weiser “All men are liars.” In line a Revised Standard Version in my consternation translates a verbal form which means “be in a hurry”; New English Bible translates “panic,” and New Jerusalem Bible “rashly.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “I was desperate,” Bible en français courant “I was so upset,” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “Forsaken.” Either “too quickly” or “in a panic” is a better translation than Revised Standard Version, or than Good News Translation “I was afraid.”

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 .