perversion / depravity

The Hebrew that is translated as “perversion,” “depravity” or something alike in English is translated in Kwere as chilozo, meaning “that which is not wanted,” which means that which is unusual or out of the norm. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

neighbor - relative

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “neighbor” or “relative” in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) and the Buku Lopatulika translation (1922/2018) with just one word: nansi. This word can also be translated as neighbors whom you share a blood relation with because in Chewa context a community is mostly comprised of people of blood relations. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

complete verse (Psalm 31:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 31:11:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Because of all my enemies,
    I am so despised by my neighbors;
    I am an embarrassment to my friends;
    Those who see me in the street run away from me.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “It’s not only my enemies.
    Even more, my neighbors are belittling me.
    Even friends are afraid to come into my presence.
    Even if I just meet them on the road, they run away.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “I am-put-to-shame by all of my enemies,
    especially my townmates/countrymen.
    Even those (whom) I know (are) afraid now to-come-near to me.
    When they see me on the street/path/road they flee (from me).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “All my enemies continually insult me. More than that, there are people who live close to me who continually speak evil of me. And people who know me are afraid of me. If they meet me on the road, right away they go far from me.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “All my enemies insult me,
    the people who are living near to me laughed at me,
    or even my friends also,
    when they see me on the road they run away from me.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Maadui wangu wote wananidharau,
    majirani zangu hawanipendi.
    Ambao wananijua mimi wananiogopa,
    iwapo wameniona barabarani, wananikimbia.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “All of my enemies make fun of me, and even my neighbors despise me.
    Even my friends are afraid of me because they think I am being punished by God,
    and when they see me on the streets, they run away.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 31:11 - 31:12

The psalmist’s suffering is further increased by his enemies; he feels that everyone has abandoned him, and he is left without any friends.

Everyone avoids the psalmist, either because of his loathsome disease or else because they fear that he is the object of God’s anger.

Scorn of all my adversaries must be translated in some languages as “My enemies say that I am no one at all,” or in direct discourse, “My enemies say to me, ‘You are nothing!’ ”

In verse 11b the Masoretic text “exceedingly” is difficult to understand (see Revised Standard Version footnote). Several ways of dealing with the text have been proposed: Revised Standard Version understands the text to say a horror; New American Bible understands “scorn”; New English Bible places different vowels with the same Hebrew consonants of the Masoretic text to get “burden”; Bible de Jérusalem understands “trash, garbage,” and New Jerusalem Bible “loathsome.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible translates lines a and b of the Masoretic text “I am insulted by all my adversaries, even more by my neighbors,” and this is the way Good News Translation and Bible en français courant have understood the text. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project says the first part of the verse may be interpreted as follows: “for all my adversaries I have become a laughing-stock, above all, even for my neighbors” (“A” decision). New International Version has “Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors” (similarly New Jerusalem Bible). This does not seem as probable as the way Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has translated the passage.

Street, which implies a pedestrian thoroughfare, must be rendered sometimes as “trail” or “path.”

In line a of verse 12, the psalmist compares himself to someone who has died and has been forgotten by all. Dead in line a is paralleled by a broken vessel in line b, which translates a participle meaning “perished” and a noun meaning “utensil, article, thing.” The Hebrew phrase is variously translated: New English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible “something lost”; New Jerusalem Bible “an object given up for lost”; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “a smashed jar”; or else “a broken vessel.” The translator should choose the word that goes best with “object, article, thing.” The same simile is used in Jeremiah 22.28.

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 .