complete verse (Psalm 109:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 109:13:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Let his grandchildren end with dying,
    their names be erased in the next generation.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “May all his children die,
    and may they be completely forgotten by the next generation.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “May-it-be that his descendants die so-that they will-be-forgotten by the next generation.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Would you let all of his children die,
    would you let names of their descendant to be wiped out.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Uzao wake wote uuangamize,
    majina yao yafutike katika kizazi ambacho kitakuja.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Cause that all his descendants will die and that his grandchildren will not remember who he was.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 109:11 - 109:13

The prayer continues in the same mood; the psalmist hopes that after his enemy’s death “his creditors” (or the creditor), that is, the people or the person he owed money to, will come and take possession of all his belongings. And in the next line (verse 11b) even strangers are to get “everything he worded for” (Hebrew the fruits of his toil). For an example of the power of creditors, see 2 Kings 4.1.

In verse 12a kindness translates chesed (see 5.7), which usually is an attribute of God, “constant love.” In verse 12b the verb “to have pity” may have the active sense of “be kind to,” “be concerned about.”

Not only does the psalmist pray for his enemy’s death, but also for the death of his descendants, so that the family line will disappear (verse 13). For similar language see 9.5. In verse 13b the Masoretic text has “their name,” that is, the name of his descendants (verse 13a); many Hebrew manuscripts and the Septuagint have his name, which is preferred by Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy. New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, and New English Bible follow the Masoretic text. Either reading makes good sense. The second generation means the one following the generation of the man himself; so Good News Translation “the next generation.” In languages which do not use the passive, it will be necessary to adjust the expression “may his name be forgotten…” to say, for example, “may the people in the next generation forget about him,” or negatively, “… not remember who he was.”

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 .