complete verse (Psalm 91:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 91:6:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “or a plague that walks in the darkness,
    or destructive (things) of the day time.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “You will have no need to fear disease that comes in the darkness
    or destructive plagues that come during the day.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (sing.) should not be-afraid of the fearful-things, of the arrow(s) of the enemies, of the sicknesses/diseases, and of the afflictions/disasters that arrived at night or day.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “or the disease that attacks you at night,
    or the bad matter that kills you in the day.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “au ugonjwa ambao unakuja katika giza,
    au angamizo ambalo linawaua watu mchana.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You will not be afraid of plagues/widespread sicknesses that demons cause when they attack people at night,
    or of other evil forces that kill people at midday.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 91:5 - 91:6

In verse 5a the terror of the night may be a reference to night demons, such as Lilith, the name of a female demon in ancient Semitic legends. New English Bible understands it to mean “hunters’ trap”; Dahood takes it to mean a pack of wild dogs; it is also possible to simply translate “an attack.” Good News Translation‘s “dangers at night” may suggest in some languages only physical dangers. Since the meaning appears to be the unseen evil associated with darkness, it may be better to render this more specifically as such; for example, “you need not fear evil spirits that go about at night.” The arrow in verse 5b may be human or demonic dangers; Anderson suggests a sunstroke may be meant.

In verse 6 the pestilence and the destruction are identified by many as demonic forces (see Oesterley). In verse 6b the Septuagint translates “from the calamity and the demon of midday.” The Hebrew noun for destruction is explained in later Rabbinical commentaries as a demon, “covered with scales and hair, and which sees out of only one eye,” that stalked abroad between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. (cited in Oesterley). Bible en français courant translates “sunstroke.” But it is possible that the words in verses 5-6 are used in a general sense of natural dangers and epidemics, with no thought of demons as their cause. If pestilence and destruction are taken to be evil spirits, then verses 5 and 6 are nearly synonymous and may be combined into one; for example, “the evil spirits that attack people and kill them in the dark or in the light” or “the evil spirits that go about during the night and the day to attack people and destroy them.”

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 .