Japanese benefactives (aganaidashite)

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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 choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, aganaidashite (贖い出して) or “redeem” 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. )

Japanese benefactives (otasuke)

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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 choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, otasuke (お助け) or “help” 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 44:25 - 44:26

In verse 25 the picture could be that of people bowed down in prayer and supplication (so Taylor, Weiser, Dahood); it seems more likely, however, as Good News Translation has interpreted it, that it is a picture of complete humiliation and defeat.

In both lines our soul (nefesh, see 3.2) and our body are ways of speaking of persons. The picturesque our body cleaves to the ground may not be a natural expression in many languages (just as it isn’t in English). New English Bible has “lie prone on the earth”; New Jerusalem Bible “lie prone on the ground”; and Knox has the best rendering of all: “prostrate, we cannot lift ourselves from the ground.”

With a final appeal to God’s steadfast love (see comments on 5.7), the psalmist asks God to take action and save his people. Deliver translates the verb which in 25.22 is translated “redeem.” See comments there. For the sake of in verse 26b means “on account of (your constant love),” that is, “because you love us.” The expression for the sake of thy steadfast love must often be rendered in translation by a verb phrase; for example, “help us because you have always loved us faithfully.”

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 .