complete verse (Psalm 146:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 146:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “When their spirits have left, they return to the soil;
    what they wanted to do end that same day.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “When they die they will return to the ground.
    On that day all their plans will be destroyed.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “When they die they return to the ground,
    and on that day their plans become of no value.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “When they die, they return to the soil,
    on that day, the matters which they thought becomes just nothing.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mtu wakati amekufa anarudi kwenye vumbi,
    siku ile ile ambayo ameyapanga yote yanaisha.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “And when they die, their corpses decay and become soil again.
    After they die, they can no longer do the things that they planned to do.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 146:3 - 146:4

For the sentiment expressed in verse 3 see 118.8-9. The psalmist warns against depending for help on anyone, including princes, that is, people with power and authority (see comments, 118.9b). It is better to translate princes as “human leaders,” as does Good News Translation, or to use its equivalent. Princes, which are sometimes translated “sons of chiefs,” may fail to suggest persons in authority. In this case it will be better to follow Good News Translation. In verse 3b a son of man means person, human being, anyone (see the plural form in 11.4).

In verse 4 the psalmist stresses the mortality of human beings. For the thought of verse 4a, see 104.29. Breath translates the Hebrew word ruach, “spirit, wind, breath,” the presence of which means life, and its absence, death. The phrase to his earth is better translated “to the dust” (New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, Good News Translation) or “to the earth” (New Jerusalem Bible). In death the body returns to the earth, the soil, from which it was made (see Gen 3.19; Eccl 12.7). Good News Translation “return to the dust” is expressed in some languages as “join with the ground” or “return to the soil.” The Hebrew word translated plans occurs only here in the Old Testament. It may be translated “purposes”; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy and Bible en français courant translate “projects.”

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 .