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 98:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 98:8:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Let the rivers clap their hands,
    let the mountains sing together with joy;” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “May the rivers clap their hands,
    may the mountains sing hymns with joy.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Let- the rivers -clap and let- the mountains -together sing for joy.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You (sing.) let the rivers to clap their hands,
    let the mountains one by one to sing with joy.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Enyi mito, pigeni makofi.
    Enyi milima, imbeni pamoja kwa furaha.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “It should seem as though the rivers are clapping their hands to praise Yahweh
    and that the hills are singing together joyfully in front of Yahweh,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 98:7 - 98:9

The psalm closes with an invitation for all creation to join in praising Yahweh: sea, world, floods and hills (see similar passage in 96.11-13). Verse 7a is exactly like 96.11b. In Hebrew there is no verb in verse 7b; Good News Translation has supplied “sing” as a synonym of “Roar” in line a. Revised Standard Version uses the third person imperative Let in verses 7-8; Good News Translation uses the second person imperative, directly addressing the various parts of the world.

Clap their hands in verse 8a translates a Hebrew verb used only here and in Isaiah 55.12 and Ezekiel 25.6 (in 47.1 a different verb is used). Verses 7-8 are filled with personifications which are problematic in many languages, particularly when an inanimate object is commanded to perform human actions. These may sometimes be shifted to similes, as suggested in 96.11.

The phrase before the LORD in the Hebrew text is at the beginning of verse 9; Good News Translation has placed it at the end of verse 8, since it goes with the verb sing. For a discussion of the verb translated judge (“rule”) see 96.13. Verse 9a (as arranged in Good News Translation) provides the reason for the preceding imperatives. In some languages it will be clearer to state the reason before the commands of verses 7-8. Judge the earth in some languages will have to be shifted to “the people of the earth,” in spite of the personifications in verses 7-8.

Although verse 9c-d resembles 96.13c-d closely, equity translates a different word from the one used in 96.13d; it is used in 96.10c and is a close synonym of tsedeq, righteousness.

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 .