complete verse (Psalm 49:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 49:18:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Even though when that person is alive considers himself blessed,
    and though he is praised when things are going well for him,” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Even though people are satisfied with their lives,
    and even though they are praised
    by the people for their success” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Even-though when they live they consider themselves blessed by God,
    and people praise them because they are-prosperous/successful,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Even though when he was still alive,
    he counted himself like a person who was blessed,
    people usually praised him when he was rich,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Hata kama alipewa baraka nyingi,
    na kusifiwa kuwa amefanikiwa,” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “While a rich person is alive, he congratulates himself,
    and people praise him for being successful,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 49:18 - 49:19

Line a of verse 18 is literally “even if he blesses his nefesh (that is, congratulates himself; see New Jerusalem Bible) while he lives.” The psalmist is speaking of the person who in this life has achieved the greatest rewards of all, humanly speaking, that is, inner satisfaction and outer praise. So line b balances line a in portraying this unusually fortunate person, while verse 19 shows the futility of it all.

Line b has some textual problems, especially with the Hebrew personal pronoun suffixes, but it seems that the Masoretic text is a direct statement, as Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has it, the man speaking to himself: “Everyone praises you because everything goes well with you.” Or else (see Anderson) “and though they praise you because you are successful,” which is how Good News Translation, New International Version, and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy have translated it.

In verse 19 the initial verb can be read as third feminine (with nefesh as the subject), or second masculine, taking up the “you” of verse 18b, which in Hebrew represents the man saying to himself “You are praised, because everything goes well with you” (Bible en français courant; see New Jerusalem Bible). In either case the reference is still to the same person spoken of in verses 16-18, and there is no need to emend the text.

Good News Translation “all his ancestors” (Revised Standard Version the generation of his fathers) are in dark Sheol, and that is the eternal destiny of such a person; like them he too will be where they never more see the light.

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 .