complete verse (Psalm 147:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 147:10:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “His rejoicing is not in the powers of a horse,
    or in the legs of powerful people.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “He does not rejoice in the strength of the horse
    or in the speed of the runner [Lit.: legs of a man].” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “His joy (is) not in strong horses or quick soldiers,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “He does not cares for strong horses
    or the strong feet of soldiers,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Hapendezwi na nguvu ya falasi,
    tena hapendezwi na nguvu ya shujaa.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “He is not pleased with strong horses
    or with men who can run fast.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Honorary "are" construct denoting God ("take liking")

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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 usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme are (され) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, konom-are-ru (好まれる) or “take liking” is used.

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

Translation commentary on Psalm 147:10 - 147:11

In these verses the psalmist talks about what pleases Yahweh and what doesn’t please him. The point is that God’s people are to find their real security, not in strong horses or in brave soldiers, but in honoring him and trusting in his steadfast love (see 33.18b). In verse 10b the legs of a man probably represents soldiers (as “strong horses” in verse 10a are war horses); see similar idea in 33.16-17. Some take the legs of a man to mean the swiftness or agility of runners (New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible; New English Bible “a runner’s legs”; Bible en français courant, a bit more intelligently, “the exploits of a runner”). Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “muscles of a man,” and New Jerusalem Bible “human sturdiness.” A translation here should not be literal; it is rather incongruous to read that God has no pleasure (Revised Standard Version) or “delight” (New International Version) in the legs of a man. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has done the best job of making clear the meaning of verse 10: “Many rely on the strength of their horses and the swift feet of their warriors; all such people are offensive to the Lord.” Another possibility is “Strong horses and brave soldiers are not what the LORD is looking for; he would rather have people honor him and trust in his constant love.”

For fear see 15.4; and for steadfast love see 5.7.

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 .