complete verse (Psalm 79:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 79:7:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “for they have swallowed Jacob
    and ruined their country.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “For they have killed the descendants of Jacob,
    and they have destroyed Your dwelling place.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “For they killed your (sing.) people and destroyed their nation.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “For they killed people of Jacob,
    and they destroyed their land.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kwa maana wamewararua watu wako,
    na kuiharibu nchi yao.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “because they have killed Israeli people and they have ruined your country.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 79:5 - 79:7

In conventional language the people ask God how long this situation will continue (see similar passages in 13.1; 74.1, 10). Their defeat by the enemy is seen as a result of God’s anger with them, and they plead with God to turn his anger from them and vent it on their enemies. The two questions in verse 5 vividly express the people’s dismay and perplexity.

In verse 5b jealous wrath translates a noun that is related to the verb “to be jealous” (see discussion at 78.58b). Yahweh’s jealousy was usually aroused when his people worshiped the gods of other nations. The expression wrath burn like fire must often be recast in idiomatic speech in some languages; for example, “Will you continue to have a hot heart against us?” or “Will you continue to look at us with red eyes?”

In verse 6 the enemy is described as the nations that do not know thee and the kingdoms that do not call on thy name: these are pagan nations, and the two nouns nations and kingdoms are synonymous. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy combines the two as follows: “Discharge your fury on pagan kingdoms who do not know you or pray to you.” The negative not know can be translated “disregard, ignore, not pay attention”; and not call upon means not to pray to, or not to worship (for discussion of name see 5.11).

In verse 7a Jacob designates the people of Israel, and his habitation in verse 7b means the country. Instead of Good News Translation “your country” in verse 7b, “our country” matches the Hebrew more closely. A literal rendering of verse 7 (Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) may lead the reader to think of Jacob as a person and his habitation as his home. Devoured your people is a common Hebrew expression for “killing” or “destroying” and is used in many languages with the same basic meaning of “to eat,” particularly in certain African languages. Verse 7 may be rendered, for example, “They have killed the descendants of Jacob and have destroyed their country” or “Those tribes have killed your people and destroyed your nation.”

Verses 6-7 are practically the same as Jeremiah 10.25.

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 .