complete verse (Psalm 54:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 54:7:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “For He has saved me from all my afflictions,
    and my eyes have seen the victory over my enemies.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “He has rescued me from all suffering.
    And I have seen that He has defeated our enemies.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “For you (sing.) will- surely -free me from all my difficulties/troubles,
    and I will- surely -see the defeat of my enemies.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Because you saved me from all matters which were bad,
    then you helped me to overpower my enemies.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kwa maana umeniokoa katika shida yangu yote,
    nimewaona maadui zangu wameshindwa.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “you have rescued me from all my troubles, and I have seen that you have defeated my enemies.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

enemy / foe

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and Latin that is translated as “enemy” or “foe” in English is translated in the Hausa Common Language Bible as “friends of front,” i.e., the person standing opposite you in a battle. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

In North Alaskan Inupiatun it is translated with a term that implies that it’s not just someone who hates you, but one who wants to do you harm (Source: Robert Bascom), in Tarok as ukpa ìkum or “companion in war/fighting,” and in Ikwere as nye irno m or “person who hates me” (source for this and one above: Chuck and Karen Tessaro in this newsletter ).

Translation commentary on Psalm 54:6 - 54:7

In verse 6 the Hebrew text may mean “I will gladly offer” (Good News Translation; also New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant), or, as Revised Standard Version has it, a freewill offering (also New Jerusalem Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), depending on whether the Hebrew word is taken adverbially, to describe the psalmist’s attitude, or as an adjective, referring to an offering which is not dictated by law (see Lev 22.18-30; Num 15.1-10).

Verse 6b in Hebrew is “I will give thanks to your name, because it is good” (see the nearly identical expression in 52.9); here, as in 52.9, New English Bible has “(I will) praise thy name, for that is good,” in which “that” refers to the action of praise, not to “name.”

For delivered in verse 7a see the use of the same verb in 7.1 (“deliver”).

Verse 7b is “and my eye has looked on my enemies,” which Revised Standard Version and others fittingly render by my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies; so Good News Translation “I have seen my enemies defeated”; also possible is “I have seen the downfall of my enemies.”

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 .