complete verse (Psalm 132:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 132:14:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “‘This is my place of resting in times of time:
    I will sit here on the chair of kingship, for I have desired these.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “This is my resting place forever.
    I will sit here on my throne,
    for it is very pleasing to me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “‘This is my dwelling-place forever/[lit. until whenever];
    I will-dwell here for I have-desired/wanted this.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “He said that, ‘This place is where I will rest forever,
    I will be here on the chair where I rule the earth, for I desire it.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “alisema, ‘Hapa ni makao yangu ya kupumzika milele na milele,
    ni makao yangu, kwa maana nimepachagua.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “he said, ‘This is the city where I will live forever;
    this is the place where I wanted to stay.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

1st person pronoun referring to God (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also pronoun for “God”.

Translation commentary on Psalm 132:13 - 132:14

In the final strophe (verses 13-18) the psalmist praises Jerusalem as the place in which Yahweh chose to live; Yahweh will bless and protect the city and its people, and will guarantee the success of David and his male descendants as kings of the people of Israel.

In verse 13 Zion is the city of Jerusalem (see 2.6); Biblia Dios Habla Hoy takes it to be the mountain on which the Temple was built. Yahweh chose it because he wanted it to be his habitation (verse 13b); in verse 14a resting place is the same word used in verse 8a. In verse 14b I will dwell translates the verb “to sit, to dwell” which may mean “sit on the throne,” that is, “to rule” (see Briggs, Anderson; see the verb in 29.10; 33.14a; 55.19b; 102.12). Most, like Revised Standard Version, translate “I will live there.”

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 .