mercy

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin terms that are typically translated as “mercy” (or “compassion” or “kindness”) in English are translated in various ways. Bratcher / Nida classify them in (1) those based on the quality of heart, or other psychological center, (2) those which introduce the concept of weeping or extreme sorrow, (3) those which involve willingness to look upon and recognize the condition of others, or (4) those which involve a variety of intense feelings.

While the English mercy originates from the Latin merces, originally “price paid,” Romance languages (Italian, Spanish, Corsican, Catalan, Friulian) and other Germanic languages (German, Swedish, Danish — Barmherzigkeit, barmhärtighet and barmhjertighed, respectively) tend to follow the Latin misericordia, lit. “misery-heart.”

Here are some other (back-) translations:

See also steadfast love.

complete verse (Psalm 109:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 109:16:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “For he never thought about doing mercy,
    but he persecuted up to killing poor people
    and the broken hearted.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “He never even thought of showing love.
    He killed the ones who mourned,
    the poor and the needy by torturing them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “For he never thinks of doing good,
    but-rather he persecutes/pursues and kills the poor ones, the ones needing-help/poor and those (who) have-lost hope.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “He refuses to be kind to other people,
    he chased the poor to death,
    and people whose hearts were broken also.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kwa maana huyo hakukumbuka kuwaonea huruma wengine,
    bali aliwafukuza maskini na wanyonge,
    ambao wameishiwa nguvu mpaka walikufa.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “He never was kind to anyone;
    he persecuted/cause problems fork poor and needy people
    and even killed helpless people.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 109:16 - 109:17

Verse 16 in Hebrew begins with “Because (or, On account of),” stating the reason why the psalmist is calling down God’s punishment on his enemy. To show kindness translates the phrase “to do chesed” (see verse 12a); New English Bible has “never set himself to be loyal to his friend.” Pursued … to their death is well rendered by Good News Translation, “persecuted and killed.” In line c Good News Translation “the helpless” translates brokenhearted, which indicates either intense suffering, or else discouraged, disheartened, dispirited, which seems more likely here (New Jerusalem Bible “one crushed in spirit,” Bible en français courant “a deeply depressed man”).

Some take verses 17-18 to be purely descriptive, with no wishes expressed by the psalmist (so Briggs, Kirkpatrick, An American Translation, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Dahood). Actually the vowels provided in the Masoretic text do make them descriptive; but it only requires a change of vowels to make them wishes (following the Septuagint, Jerome; so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New English Bible, New American Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy).16-17 Hebrew Old Testament Text Project proposes the following as the translation of verses 16-19: because he did not remember…, (because) he persecuted the poor man…, (because) he loved cursing (so much so) that it went far from him, (because) he clothed himself with the cursing … (so much so) that it came like…, (for all that,) may that become for him a garment….

In verse 17 to curse and curses do not mean the use of vulgar or obscene language, but a plea to God to send misfortunes on another person. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy is able to do it well: “Since he preferred to pronounce malediction, may others do the same to him! (la maldicion … maldigan).” “To give blessings” may sometimes be rendered “to ask God to do good to other people” or “to ask God to give good things to others.”

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 .