complete verse (Psalm 109:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 109:5:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “They repay me evils instead of good (things),
    and enmity instead of my love.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “In return for the good that I do, they do evil.
    and in return for my love, they hate me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “They repay me evil for the good that I do for them,
    and they repay me anger for my making-friends-together with them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “They paid me with the badness for of the good thing I do,
    and they hate me, but instead, I love them,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Wananilipa mabaya katika mema yangu,
    wananichukia kwa upendo wangu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “In return for my doing good things for them and loving them,
    they do evil things to me and hate me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 109:4 - 109:5

Although his enemies attack him for no reason at all, the psalmist loves them and prays for them (verse 4). In verse 4a accuse translates the verb satan (the synonymous verb translated “contend” in 35.1 may also mean to accuse in a trial). Ordinarily, in English the verb “accuse” is transitive, that is, the one accused must be mentioned, and something like “they accuse me of doing evil things” (or the like) must be said. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “they attack me,” which is better than Good News Translation “They oppose me.”

Verse 4b in Hebrew is strange; it seems to say simply “and I a prayer.” New English Bible emends the text to get “though I have done nothing unseemly”; New Jerusalem Bible translates the Masoretic text “and I must stand judgment” (with the footnote “Or ‘but I am all prayer’ ”). The majority render the text as Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation do; Hebrew Old Testament Text Project says the Masoretic text means “while I did but pray.” New International Version “but I am a man of prayer” does not fit in the context.

The psalmist protests that he is completely innocent and has given his enemies no reason for their hatred (verse 5); for similar language see 35.12; 38.20. Instead of abstract nouns, verbal phrases may be better in translating this verse:

• I do good things for them,
but they pay me back with bad things;
I love them, but they hate me.

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 .