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 38:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 38:11:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “My friends and colleagues are avoiding me because of my wounds;
    my relatives have stayed away from me.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “My friends and in-laws fearing my disease
    have been staying far away,
    Even my immediate family no longer comes close.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “My friends and companions avoid me because of my illness.
    Even my blood-relatives walk-away from me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “My neighbors and close friends, they stay far away from me. Even the people in my own house keep away from me, because they don’t want to catch my illness.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “My friends reject me because of my wounds,
    people who live near to me stay away from me.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Rafiki zangu na wenzangu wananikwepa,
    kwa sababu ya ugonjwa wangu.
    Majirani zangu wamesimama mbali.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “My friends and neighbors stay away from me because of my sores;
    even my own family stays away from me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

power / strength

The Hebrew that is typically translated in English as “power” or “might” or “force” is translated in the English translation by Goldingay (2018) as energy or energetic.

Translation commentary on Psalm 38:11

The psalmist again refers to his disease, using a word which Revised Standard Version translates plague and which in Leviticus 13–14 is used of skin disease (“leprosy”) and also of mold and mildew on clothes, materials, houses. So Good News Translation has here “sores” (see also Biblia Dios Habla Hoy); New American Bible and New Jerusalem Bible, however, translate “affliction”; New English Bible “sickness.” Perhaps some general word like “illness” or “sickness” is the best to use.

His friends and companions and his kinsmen avoid him (see the similar situation in 31.11). The reason is not only the repulsive nature of his illness (which they probably considered contagious), but also the assumption that a person in such a desperate condition was the object of God’s anger and so should be avoided. Companions is hardly distinguishable from friends; so Biblia Dios Habla Hoy joins the two into one phrase, “my best friends”; and Bible en français courant identifies the two, “My friends, my constant companions.” The word translated kinsmen is literally “those who are near to me” and may mean “neighbors,” as some translate it. “Because of my sores” in Good News Translation sometimes requires making the reason more explicit; for example, “they will not come near me because they are afraid of my sores” or “… because they are afraid of catching my sickness.”

One of the tasks of the poet was to use repetition for selected purposes and to avoid it if it did not serve his purposes. Since every word in a language does not have a synonym, it was sometimes necessary for the psalmist to use the same word in parallel lines, but to alter the tense, voice, mood, or conjugation. In this verse the Hebrew verb translated stand is such a case. In line a the verb is in the imperfect tense, and in line b it is in the perfect tense. In translation it may be necessary, as in Good News Translation, to use different verbs or verb phrases.

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 .