Psalm 63 (image)

Image taken from the Wiedmann Bible. For more information about the images and ways to adopt them, see here .

For other images of Willy Wiedmann paintings in TIPs, see here.

complete verse (Psalm 63:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 63:9:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Those who are seeking my life will be destroyed;
    they will descend deep into the depth of the earth.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Those who are trying to kill me will go to ruin.
    They will fall into hell.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “The-one-who tries to-kill me will-go to the place of the dead ones.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “People who want to kill me will be killed.
    They will be buried in a deep hole.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Lakini ambao wanataka kuniua mimi,
    watashuka mahali pa wafu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “But those who are trying to kill me
    will die and descend into the place of the dead;” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 63:9 - 63:10

Verses 9-11 may be understood as a wish, a petition, “May those…” (New Jerusalem Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Dahood), or as a statement of fact (Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New English Bible, New American Bible, New International Version, Weiser). The initial But of Revised Standard Version, therefore, is useful and should be included in translation, since it contrasts the psalmist’s situation (verses 6-8) with that of his enemies (verses 9-10). It seems better to understand verses 9-10 as a wish, a petition. The psalmist prays for the immediate and violent death of his enemies; the depths of the earth are Sheol, “the world of the dead.” Go down into the depths of the earth must sometimes be rendered “go to the place where dead people go” or “… where the dead are put.”

He prays for their death “in battle” (literally “given over to the hands of the sword”); and he asks that their bodies, instead of being buried, will be eaten by jackals, an especially degrading fate. See similar expressions in Isaiah 18.6; Jeremiah 7.33. The word translated prey is “portion, part,” here in the sense of food which will be given to the jackals. In some languages a local animal which scavenges for its food must replace jackal or wolf.

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 .