complete verse (Psalm 57:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 57:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I am in the midst of lions,
    I have slept in the midst of ruthless beasts;
    people whom their teeth and their lips are arrows,
    their tongues are sharp swords.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “I have been living amidst enemies
    who are like man-eating lions.
    Their teeth are like spears and arrows.
    Their tongues are as sharp as swords.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “I am-surrounded by enemies who (are) like lions who (are) ready to devour men.
    Their teeth are spears and arrows.
    Their tongues are sharp swords.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The enemies who are like lions,
    and they stay like animals who are wild that are hungry,
    Their teeth are like spears and arrows
    and their tongues stays like sharp swords.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mimi nimezungukwa na maadui,
    ambao wako kama simba ambao wanakula watu.
    Meno yao yako kama vile mikuki na mishale,
    ndimi zao ziko kama mapanga makali sana.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Sometimes I am surrounded by my enemies who are like lions that kill humans;
    they are like lions that chew with their teeth animals that they kill;
    but my enemies have spears and arrows, not teeth;
    and the false things that they say hurt people as much as sharp swords hurt people.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 57:4

In this verse Revised Standard Version consistently maintains the metaphor, and some readers, unaware of the figurative nature of the language, may understand the words in a literal fashion.

The verse begins with “My nefesh” (see 3.2), which may be emphatic (New Jerusalem Bible “As for me…”), or else it may go with in the midst of lions, while the verb I lie goes with “those who devour men.” So Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, which translates, “I am among lions, lying down among creatures….” Most translations are like Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. The expression in the midst of lions in some languages must be adjusted; for example, where the lion is unknown and there are other large animals that will attack people, such animals may be used in place of lions. If no such animal is known, then the translator may have to say “wild animals.”

For other passages in which the psalmist’s enemies are compared with lions see 7.2; 10.9; 17.12. The Hebrew verb form in line b translated “eating” by Good News Translation means “to devour,” that is, destructive and greedy eating; it is not necessary, as Revised Standard Version has done, to supply another Hebrew verb on the supposition that this verb means only “to burn up” (see Anderson). Good News Translation and New Jerusalem Bible have “man-eating lions.” For comments on the phrase sons of men, see 11.4.

The psalmist pictures his enemies to be like lions whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords–obvious metaphors for ferociousness and destructive fury (see similar language in 52.2; 55.21). Sharp swords in some languages where the sword is unknown may be rendered “sharp knives.”

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 .