The Hebrew in Psalm 45:3 that is translated as “gird your sword on your thigh” or similar in English is translated in Kwere as “gird your sword around your waist.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
complete verse (Psalm 45:3)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 45:3:
- Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
“Tie up your sword in your waist you mighty person;
cloth yourself with your great glory.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) - Newari:
“O most powerful king!
Put on Your sword with exaltation and glory.” (Source: Newari Back Translation) - Hiligaynon:
“Fasten-on your (sing.) sword, mighty king;
you (sing.) (are) powerful and great/praiseworthy.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation) - Eastern Bru:
“Oh king who is very brave! Request you take your sword, then sheath it around your waist. You are the king who has great power, and you do wonderful works.” (Source: Bru Back Translation) - Laarim:
“You (sing.) who are powerful for war, holds your sword.
you put yourself with glory and with power.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation) - Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
“Ee shujaa, ujifunge upanga wako katika kiuno,
utukufu na uzuri ni vyako wewe.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation) - English:
“You who are a mighty warrior, put on your sword!
You are glorious and majestic.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Translation commentary on Psalm 45:3
Gird your sword upon your thigh: this means to secure the sword in the sheath, or guard, which hung from a belt around the warrior’s waist. In some languages it will be necessary to make one of three possible adaptations in the expression. First, if the sword is unknown, a local instrument for fighting may be substituted. Second, it may be desirable to use a term for sword which needs reinforcement by the use of a classifier, such as “weapon.” Third, if neither of the above solutions is satisfactory, one may simply translate sword as “your weapon.” If the local weapon is not one that is carried on the hip, further adjustment will be required; for example, “pick up your weapon” or “carry your spear.”
The vocative O mighty one is applied to the king; it can be translated “mighty warrior” (Bible en français courant), “brave man” (see Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), or “warrior king” (New English Bible).
Line b in Hebrew is simply “your glory and majesty”; most connect this with what precedes, in your glory and majesty; Good News Translation takes it as an independent statement, “you are glorious and majestic.” The words can be taken to describe the sword as a symbol of the king’s glory and majesty (see Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “It is your splendid adornment”; Bible en français courant “a symbol of your splendor and your majesty”). The expression in your glory and majesty may sometimes be rendered in reverse order; for example, “you are a great king and do great deeds.”
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.
Copyright © Scriptura
Copyright © Scriptura
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