soul

The Hebrew, Greek, and Latin that is translated as “soul” in English is translated in Chol with a term that refers to the invisible aspects of human beings (source: Robert Bascom), in Yagaria with oune or “shadow, reflection” (source: Renck, p. 81), and in Elhomwe as “heart” (source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext).

The Mandarin Chinese línghún (靈魂 / 灵魂), literally “spirit-soul,” is often used for “soul” (along with xīn [心] or “heart”). This is a term that was adopted from Buddhist sources into early Catholic writings and later also by Protestant translators. (Source: Zetzsche 1996, p. 32, see also Clara Ho-yan Chan in this article )

In Chichewa, moyo means both “soul” and “life.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

See also heart, soul, mind.

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Ps 123:4)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, the Jarai and the Adamawa Fulfulde translations both use the exclusive pronoun, excluding the Lord.

complete verse (Psalm 123:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 123:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “We have endured much insult coming from arrogant people,
    a great mockery coming from proud people.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “We have had to endure mockery
    from the rich aristocrats
    and derision from the proud.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “The mocking of us (excl.) by the people who just take-it-easy/relax and the proud ones (is) now too-much.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “We endured very much laughter in when people who are proud laughed at us,
    we endured much great suffering when arrogant people troubled us.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Tumeshiba matusi ya wenye kiburi,
    tumedharauliwa sana na ambao wanajivuna.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Rich people have made fun of us for a long time, and proud people who have oppressed/ acted cruelly toward us have acted toward us as though we were worthless.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 123:3 - 123:4

In the prayer for mercy (verses 3-4) the people complain of the contempt and scorn to which they have been subjected. Verse 3b in Hebrew is “we have been completely filled with contempt,” not their contempt for others but the contempt with which others treat them. For translation suggestions on Have mercy upon us, see “Be gracious” in 4.1; 9.13; 27.7; “Be merciful” in 57.1. It may be necessary to avoid the passive in “we have been treated with so much contempt” and say “people have treated us with so much contempt.” “Treated with contempt” may be rendered sometimes as “treated us as if we were nothing” or “treated us as if we were not people.”

The same idea is expressed in verse 4a, where “our nefesh” stands for “We” (see 3.2). In this same verse those who are at ease are the rich people, self-satisfied people who have all they want and are happy with things as they are (see Amos 6.1); New Jerusalem Bible and New Jerusalem Bible translate “the complacent.”

In verse 4c one form of the Hebrew text has the proud (so Revised Standard Version and the majority of translations); the Hebrew word occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament. Another form of the Hebrew text has the phrase “proud oppressors” (so Good News Translation); both are equally fitting in the context. For translation suggestions concerning “oppressors” see “him who despoils” in 35.10.

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 .