forget

The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “forget” in English is translated in Noongar as dwangka-anbangbat, lit. “ear-lose.” (Source: Portions of the Holy Bible in the Nyunga language of Australia, 2018).

See also remember and forget (Japanese honorifics).

complete verse (Psalm 45:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 45:10:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Listen, you daughter consider and pay attention;
    forget your people and the house of your father.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “listen, O princess, and think, give ear,
    and forget your own people and the house of your father,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Wife-to-be of the king, listen to what I will-say:
    Forget your (sing.) fellowmen and blood-relatives,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Oh you bride, you who becomes the wife of the king! Listen to these words of mine. You must forget your own people and all of your father’s family.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Bride, you listen, put my word into your ear,
    you forget your people and the home of your father.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee msichana wewe, usikilize,
    tega masikio yako,
    uwasahau wa kwenu na ndugu zako.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Now I will say something to your bride:
    Listen to me carefully!
    Forget the people who live in your home country,
    forget your relatives!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 45:10 - 45:11

The poet now speaks to the bride, addressing her as daughter, a term of endearment. He tells her to listen to him carefully (literally “bend the ear”; see 17.6 and discussion). First, in verse 10b he recommends that she no longer be attached to her people and to her own relatives (your father’s house). This seems to indicate that she is a foreigner; her people would be the people of her own country, and she would have to forsake their customs and religious beliefs. The expression forget your people is somewhat metaphorical, since the intention is not one of forgetting, but rather of not obeying. Therefore, in languages where forget will only be understood literally, it is better to say “don’t be commanded by your people and your relatives” or “no longer follow the advice of your….”

Verse 11a may be read as a clause that is subordinate to the following one: “When the king desires your beauty…” (New English Bible). Such a rendering makes it a specific reference to sexual intercourse (New Jerusalem Bible “let the king be aroused by your beauty”). Her new husband is her lord and “master”; she must obey him (literally “bow down to him”). The expression he is your lord may sometimes be rendered “he is the one who rules over you.” In some languages one may say “your owner.”

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 .

Psalm 45: Layer by Layer

The following are presentations by the Psalms: Layer by Layer project, run by Scriptura . The first is an overview and the second an introduction into the exegesis of Psalm 45.


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Copyright © Scriptura