happiness / joy

The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is typically translated in English as “joy” or “happiness” is translated in the Hausa Common Language Bible idiomatically as farin ciki or “white stomach.” In some cases, such as in Genesis 29:11, it is also added for emphatic purposes.

Other languages that use the same expression include Southern Birifor (pʋpɛl), Dera (popolok awo), Reshe (ɾipo ɾipuhã). (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

See also Seat of the Mind / Seat of Emotions, rejoiced greatly / celebrated, the Mossi translation of “righteous”, and joy.

complete verse (Psalm 96:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 96:12:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “let the fields celebrate together with everything in them.
    Then all the trees of the forest will sing with joy;” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “May the fields and everything growing in them all rejoice,
    and may all the trees of the forest rejoice and sing songs before the LORD.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Rejoice heavens and earth,
    including the seas, fields, and all that (is) in them.
    All the trees in the forest will-sing for joy” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “you (plur.) let the earth and all things which its to be happy.
    and the trees of the bush sing the songs of happiness,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mashamba na vyote ambavyo vimo vifurahie!
    Basi na miti yote iimbe na furaha,” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “The fields and everything that grows in them should rejoice.
    When they do that, it will be as though all the trees in the forests will sing joyfully” (Source: Translation for Translators)

before / in the sight of / presence of (God) (Japanese honorifics)

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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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. When the referent is God, the “divine” honorific prefix mi- (御 or み) can be used, as in mi-mae (御前) or “before (God)” in the referenced verses. In some cases in can also be used in reference to being before a king, such as in 1 Samuel 16:16.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also presence (Japanese honorifics) and before you / to you.

Translation commentary on Psalm 96:11 - 96:13

In verses 11a-b, 12a the whole universe is called upon to praise Yahweh: heavens, earth, sea, field, together with all the living beings that inhabit the seas and the fields. Four verbs are used synonymously: be glad (see 9.2), rejoice (see 9.14), roar (see 46.3), and exult (see 28.7). For sing for joy in verse 12b, see “shout for joy” in 20.5. In languages in which inanimate objects do not express human emotions, it may be necessary to add a simile; for example, “earth and sky be glad as people are glad.” The same is true for sea, fields, and trees.

In verse 12b the form of the Hebrew is not an exhortation, as in verses 11a-b, 12a, but a declaration; so Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, New American Bible, New International Version, Dahood; but Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant, and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy disregard the difference and translate the line as though it were like the preceding three.

The Hebrew in the first part of verse 13 is repetitious: “before Yahweh, for he comes, for he comes to rule the earth.” Good News Translation has expressed it more succinctly, “when the LORD comes to rule the earth.”

The verb translated “rule” by Good News Translation in verse 13a-b is shafat (not the same verb used in verse 10a), which in many contexts has the precise meaning of to judge and is so translated here by Revised Standard Version and others. But here more is implied than the exercise of judgment: Yahweh as king (verse 10) is coming to rule, to govern, the world (so Good News Translation, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Dahood); see the verb in 72.2. Good News Translation “justice” translates tsedeq (see 4.1), and “fairness” translates ʾemunah (see 36.5). Revised Standard Version and others translate the latter word by truth or “faithfulness.” Anderson defines the phrase here: “with self-consistency and without arbitrariness.”

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 .