complete verse (Psalm 140:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 140:1:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Rescue me Jehovah from wicked people;
    protect me from cruel people,” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O LORD, save me from evil people.
    Protect me from violent people.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “LORD, save me from wicked and cruel/violent people.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD, help me from bad people,
    protect me from people who beat people anyhow,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee BWANA, uniokoe kwa watu wabaya,
    unilinde kwa watu wakatili,” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, rescue/save me from being attacked by evil men;
    and even more, keep me safe/protect me from being attacked by violent people.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

David

The name that is transliterated as “David” in English means “beloved.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying king and a sling (referring to 1 Samuel 17:49 and 2 Samuel 5:4). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Elizabeth” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In German Sign Language it is only the sling. (See here ).


“David” in German Sign Language (source )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

The (Protestant) Mandarin Chinese transliteration of “David” is 大卫 (衛) / Dàwèi which carries an additional meaning of “Great Protector.”

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about David (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: David .

Japanese benefactives (mamotte)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. Here, mamotte (守って) or “protect” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).”

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Psalm 140:1 - 140:2

The two lines of verse 1 are semantically parallel, with a slight step up in intensity in line b. As is often the case in an opening verse, line b reverses the word order so that in Hebrew the order is “Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; from violent men preserve me.” Line b has no vocative (O LORD) and must depend on line a to supply it by implication. Translators should make an effort to reflect the intensification by saying something like “LORD, save me from evil men; even more, keep me safe from violent ones” or “Protect me from people who do bad deeds; and still more, keep me safe from people who harm others.” If the receptor language style requires the address form in the second line, it should be made explicit.

In the same way, line b of verse 2 moves from the general idea plan evil things to the more specific stir up wars and may be rendered, for example, “Not only do they make up evil plots, but they even stir up wars” or “They not only think up evil plans; they actually cause people to fight each other.” The statement who plan … in their heart is a way of saying “who make secret plots”; or else, as New Jerusalem Bible has it, “their minds are full of evil schemes.” In verse 2b it seems better to take the Hebrew noun to mean fights or quarrels (see New English Bible, Bible en français courant, New Jerusalem Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy) and not wars, which has to do with armed conflicts between nations. Men in verse 1 is to be taken collectively and inclusively; so it will be best to translate as “people” in order not to give the impression that the psalmist meant that only males are evil and violent. Violent men may sometimes be rendered as “people who use force on others” or “people who attack others.”

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 .