complete verse (Psalm 64:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 64:2:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Hide me from the plot of the wicked people,
    to the noisy group of the people (who) do evil.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Hide me from the plots of the wicked
    and from the gang that keeps doing false work” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Protect me from the evil plans of that group of wicked ones.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Hide me from the plan of bad people
    and from the crowd of sinners.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Uniepushe kwa ambayo wanapanga sirini,
    kunitendea mimi vibaya,
    kwa kundi la watu waliopotoka.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Protect me from what wicked men are planning to do to me;
    protect me from that gang of men who do what is evil.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Japanese benefactives (kakumatte)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, kakumatte (かくまって) or “hide” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Psalm 64:1 - 64:2

The psalmist prays for help because he is “in trouble” (Good News Translation). The Hebrew word is used also in 55.2b, where Revised Standard Version translates “my trouble,” while here it translates my complaint. The Hebrew word itself is defined as “business, concern,” and is variously translated: New Jerusalem Bible “as I plead”; New English Bible “my lament”; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, and New International Version are like Revised Standard Version (see also Bible en français courant “I complain to you”). And Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “my loud complaint.” It may be better to follow the majority and translate something like “Listen to my bitter complaint, O God!”

The phrase dread of the enemy means that his enemies make him afraid; the translation can be “terrifying enemies” (see Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), “the enemy’s terror” (New Jerusalem Bible), “terrible enemies” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). Because of the danger they pose, the psalmist asks God to save his life.

In verse 2a the word translated plots can also mean a group; that is, it can mean either “counsel” or “council.” New Jerusalem Bible has “a band”; “that conclave” is also possible; this meaning is more closely parallel to the next line, in which the Good News Translation word “mobs” translates a noun found only here in the Old Testament. In 55.14 a related noun is used, which Revised Standard Version translates “(we walked) in fellowship.” Revised Standard Version takes the noun in line b as parallel to secret plots in line a, and so translates the scheming of evildoers (so Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). New Jerusalem Bible translates “a crowd of evildoers,” and New Jerusalem Bible “the gang.” Everything considered, it seems best to follow Good News Translation and New Jerusalem Bible here.

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 .