complete verse (Psalm 68:25)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 68:25:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “In front there are mouth music singers, behind them (there are) music singers with instruments
    together with them there are girls playing tambourines:” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “At the front are the ones singing songs,
    at the back are the ones playing instruments,
    in the middle are women playing the dəmphu.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “In-front/ahead (are) the singers and at-the-end/back are the musicians;
    in the midst are the young-ladies who play/sound their tambourines.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The singers went first, then followed by people of harps behind,
    then in the middle, followed by girls with sounded jingles.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ambao wanaimba wametangulia mbele,
    nyuma wanafuata wapiga vinubi,
    wasichana wako katikati wanapiga ngoma.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “The singers are in front, and the people who play stringed instruments are at the rear, and young women who are beating their tambourines are between them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 68:24 - 68:25

This section (verses 24-27) describes God’s solemn processions into the Temple, celebrating his victories over Israel’s enemies. The order of the procession (verses 25, 27) is fairly clearly stated. The entrance of Yahweh into the Temple was probably represented by the priests carrying in the Covenant Box. The plural processions may be taken to refer to various processions, or it may be understood as a superlative, “a great procession.” Thy solemn processions is difficult to express where such formal movements of people are not practiced. However, it is often possible to translate the idea as a time clause; for example, “when you go like a chief” or “when you walk like a soldier.” Note that God is referred to as my King.

The minstrels (Good News Translation “the musicians”) played stringed instruments. In contemporary English minstrels (Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, New English Bible) is highly misleading. “Tambourines” (Revised Standard Version timbrels) were small one-headed hand drums, sometimes with metallic disks or jingles attached to the sides, which were regularly played by women (see Exo 15.20, of Miriam and her companions).

The Hebrew for maidens refers to young girls of marriageable age.

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 .