world (Chinese)

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “world” in English is translated in Mandarin Chinese with shìjiè (世界). While shìjiè is now the commonly used term for “world” in Chinese, it was popularized as such by Chinese Bible translations. (Source: Mak 2017, p. 241ff.)

See also world.

complete verse (Psalm 94:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 94:2:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Rise up, You the judge of the earth;
    pay back to the proud (what) they deserve.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “You are the judge of all people, rise up!
    and give the arrogant what they deserve.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (sing.) (are) the-one-who judges all the people;
    so, alright/go-on now, pay-back to the proud what is-fitting for them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “God, Judge, wake up, you judge the matter of earth,
    you pay people who boast with punishment.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee hakimu wa dunia yote,
    inuka, uwaadhibu wenye kiburi kufuatana na matendo yao.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You are the one who judges all people on the earth;
    so arise, and give/punish the proud leaders of our people like they deserve.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Japanese benefactives (tachiagatte)

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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, tachiagatte (立ち上がって) or “rise” 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. )

Japanese benefactives (hōfukushite)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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, hōfukushite (報復して) or “repay” 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 94:1 - 94:2

Verses 1 and 3 contain stairstep parallelism; that is, the a line is repeated and then completed in b. The function of such parallelism is to catch the listener or reader’s attention with an incomplete statement, which is then completed in the second line. The purpose is to move the listener or reader to want to see the undeveloped thought brought to completion.

The psalm begins with an urgent plea to God to act: he is called God of vengeance, that is, a God who takes vengeance on his enemies, the enemies of Israel, by punishing them (see “vengeance” in 18.47). In many languages the expression God of vengeance will carry the meaning of “vengeful vindictiveness.” For this reason it will often be better to follow the example of Good News Translation‘s “God who punishes.” However, in some languages it will be necessary to make explicit the ones who receive this punishment. In the present context it refers to those in power who oppress others.

Good News Translation “reveal your anger” translates the causative form of the verb “to shine”: “cause to shine forth” (see 50.2; 80.1). In the context this “shining forth” is the manifestation of God’s anger, or at least his justice, his determination to avenge. New Jerusalem Bible translates “appear,” which is better, in English at least, than “show yourself” (New American Bible; also New English Bible); Bible en français courant has “manifest yourself.” The verb in Hebrew is in the perfect tense, not the imperative; The Greek translations of Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotion, and Jerome and the Syriac, have the imperative; some believe the Masoretic form is simply a scribal error and that the imperative form is intended; see 80.1. New English Bible is the only translation to change the Hebrew text to justify using the imperative (see L. H. Brockington, The Hebrew Text of the Old Testament, page 146). Because both lines of verse 1 are closely synonymous, some translations such as Biblia Dios Habla Hoy reduce them to a single line, “Show yourself, Lord, God of vengeances.” (The Spanish keeps the plural form, as in Hebrew.)

In verse 2 God as judge of the earth is asked to stand up and pass sentence on the proud and punish them as they deserve (see similar expression in 28.4d). The proud are people who disregard God (see verse 7). Rise up means “Take action” (see 3.7; 9.19). In languages in which Rise up from a lying and sitting position are different, the expression as used here probably means that the psalmist is asking God to stand up (from his throne) and pronounce his verdict. The proud is often rendered by means of idiomatic expressions; for example, “give to people with swollen hearts the things they should get.” Their deserts means “what they deserve” (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version); New English Bible has “punish the proud as they deserve.”

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 .