more in number

In Gbaya, the notion of the great number of enemies in Psalms 69:4 is emphasized with mgbíɗíɗí , an ideophone used to describe several things of the same size, such as lawn grass.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

complete verse (Psalm 69:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 69:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Those who hate me without a reason
    are more than the hair on my head;
    many are my enemies without a reason,
    those who are seeking to destroy me.
    I am being forced to return
    what I did not steal.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Those who hate me without reason
    are more [numerous] than the hairs on my head.
    By making false accusations
    they have been trying to destroy me.
    Even saying
    that I should bring back what I did not steal
    they pick quarrels with me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Many (are) opposing/going-against me and want to-kill (me) without reason.
    They (are) more great-in-number than my head-hairs.
    They force me to-return the things I did-not steal.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “There are many people who hate me for nothing,
    who are many more than the hairs of my head,
    my enemies hate me for nothing,
    who want to kill me.
    They made me to return things
    which I had not stolen.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Hawa wananichukia bila hatia yoyote,
    wengi kuzidi nywele yangu.
    Wako na nguvu sana ambao wanataka kuniua,
    ambao wananisemea ya uongo.
    Je, nirudishe kitu ambacho sijaiba?” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Those who hate me when there is no reason to hate me
    are more than the number of hairs on my head!
    Those who want to get rid of me are strong, and they tell lies about me.
    They demand that I return to them things that I did not steal!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

enemy / foe

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Ge’ez, and Latin that is translated as “enemy” or “foe” in English is translated in the Hausa Common Language Bible as “friends of front,” i.e., the person standing opposite you in a battle. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

In North Alaskan Inupiatun it is translated with a term that implies that it’s not just someone who hates you, but one who wants to do you harm (Source: Robert Bascom), in Tarok as ukpa ìkum or “companion in war/fighting,” and in Ikwere as nye irno m or “person who hates me” (source for this and one above: Chuck and Karen Tessaro in this newsletter ).

Translation commentary on Psalm 69:4

The psalmist denounces his enemies, people who hate him without cause, that is, people who have no reason to hate him (see 35.19 for a similar statement). They are many, more than the hairs of my head, he says (see the same figure used in 40.12).

In line c mighty translates a verb that may mean “(they) are many” (see the same verb in 38.19; 40.12). Destroy translates a verb which means “put to silence,” that is, to put to death; but New English Bible and Dahood prefer to emend to a form meaning “more than my locks” (parallel to “more than my hairs” in line a); Syriac has “more than my bones.” It is best to stay with the interpretation of Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.

Those who attack me with lies translates a two-word phrase, “my enemies sheqer.” Elsewhere this Hebrew word is translated “(who are my enemies) without cause” (see comments on 35.19; 38.19b), and this is probably the meaning here, parallel with line a (so Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, An American Translation, New American Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy).

The last line in this verse can be understood as a rhetorical question (Revised Standard Version and others); it implies that the enemies have falsely accused the psalmist of theft and have tried to force him to return what in fact he did not steal. New English Bible translates “How can I give back what I have not stolen?” Perhaps this was a proverbial statement, used by anyone who had been wrongfully accused of a crime (see a similar situation in 35.11).

What is the first line of the verse in Good News Translation is quoted (from the Septuagint) in John 15.25; see also Psalm 35.19.

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 .