complete verse (Psalm 69:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 69:2:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I am drowning in deep mud
    where there is no foothold.
    I have entered into deep waters;
    waves have drowned me” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “I have been sinking deep into the mud.
    My feet are not able to rest on the ground.
    I have gotten caught in deep water.
    I have been sinking in the deep flood.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “(It) seems that I am-going-down/sinking into deep mud and I do-not-have a foothold/place-to-set-(my feet).
    (It) seems that I (am) in a deep water and am-covered-up by waves.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “I enter deep mud
    and there is no place for my feet to stand.
    I stay in a deep place in sea,
    and the water becomes near to swallow me which are powerful.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Nazama katika matope mengi,
    ambamo siwezi hata kusimama.
    Niko katikati penye maji yenye kina kirefu,
    maji ambayo yanakwenda kwa nguvu, yananizamisha.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “I continue to sink in the deep mud, and there is no solid ground for me to stand on.
    I am in deep water, and flood waters are swirling around me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 69:1 - 69:2

The psalmist compares his difficult and dangerous situation to that of someone who is about to drown. All the figures used, waters … up to my neck, deep mire, deep waters, and flood, indicate extreme danger and peril of death; see 18.16; 40.2, for similar descriptions. Either the psalmist is dangerously ill, or his enemies are threatening his life.

The psalmist is using an exaggerated form of imagery here for the purpose of making his plight vivid and picturable. In some languages the imagery used may be so unnatural that it may be necessary to substitute others. To translate the figures of verses 1-2 in nonfigurative language and at the same time keep a semblance of poetic form would be extremely difficult and is not generally recommended.

In verse 1b neck translates the word nefesh. See Peacock (1976), page 217.

In verse 2b the word translated foothold (Good News Translation “solid ground”) occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament. It is related to the verb meaning “to stand” or “to take a stand.”

The flood sweeps over me: literally “flowing waters wash over me.” The picture may be from either an ocean or a flooded and swiftly-moving river.

The translator may find the logical sequence unclear; for example, in verse 1 the water is said to be up to the psalmist’s neck, and it is only later in verse 2c that the writer is said to be in danger of drowning. This is because verse 1 depicts a general condition, and verse 2, specific aspects of that condition. In order to clarify this picture in some languages, the translator may find it clearer to place lines c and d at the beginning and to follow verse 2 with verse 1; for example, “I am out in deep water, and the waves are about to drown me. I am sinking in deep mud and there is no solid ground; the water is up to my neck; save me, O God!”

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 .