complete verse (Psalm 141:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 141:9:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Save me from the traps of death which they have set against me,
    from the snares which the wicked people have planned.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Save me from the nets
    that they have set for me
    and from the traps
    that evildoers have laid out.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Keep me from the snares that were-placed/set for me by the wicked ones.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You save me from the trap in which people set for me,
    from the trap in which those bad people set for me.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Unilinde katika mtego ambao wamenitegea mimi,
    na katika vitanzi vya watu wabaya.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “It is as though people have set traps for me; protect me from falling into those traps, It is as though they have spread nets to catch me;
    keep me from being caught in those nets.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Japanese benefactives (mamotte)

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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 benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. Here, mamotte (守って) or “protect” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).”

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

Translation commentary on Psalm 141:9 - 141:10

For the figures trap and snares used in verses 9-10, see 140.4-5. In verse 10 the word for nets occurs only here in the Old Testament. The Hebrew text has “his nets,” which Dahood takes to be Yahweh’s nets; Syriac has “their nets,” and this is taken by most translators to be the sense of the Hebrew text. But the word which Revised Standard Version translates together is taken by some to mean “each one,” with the result “each one (fall) into his own net,” which is possible (so New American Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible). Others take the word to mean “only, alone” and read it as the first word of the final line: “while I alone escape.” Anderson proposes “while I escape all in one piece.” For the wish expressed in verse 10a, see the statements in 7.15-16; 9.15-16; 57.6; 140.9.

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 .