complete verse (Psalm 81:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 81:15:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Those who hate Jehovah would have wrinkled before him,
    and their punishment would have stayed forever.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Those who are hostile towards me, being afraid,
    will come and fall down before me.
    Their punishment will go on forever.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Those (who) hate me, will-bow-down to me in fear.
    Their punishment has no end.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The people who hated the LORD would hide from his presence,
    and their punishment would remain forever.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ambao wanamchukia BWANA ingekuwa wangegaagaa mbele yake,
    adhabu yao itakuwako milele na milele.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Then all those who hate me would cringe before/bow down to me,
    and then I would punish them forever.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 81:15 - 81:16

Most commentators and translators take verses 15-16 also to be the LORD’s words (despite the various changes in pronouns); Biblia Dios Habla Hoy and Bible en français courant, however, take the words to be the psalmist’s own comment.

In verse 15a the Hebrew is “Those who hate Yahweh would cower before him,” which Good News Translation has represented with the first person pronoun “me … me,” since it takes Yahweh to be the speaker. Many emend the text from “those who hate Yahweh” to “those who hate him (that is, Israel),” but this does not seem necessary. For cringe toward him see comments on 18.44.

In verse 15b the Hebrew is “their time would last forever,” which is taken to mean their fate (Revised Standard Version), their doom, “their punishment.” Some take “their time” to be a reference to Israel’s good times, which would last forever (so Bible en français courant; see also Briggs, Kirkpatrick, McCullough); this is possible but does not seem probable. If the translator follows Good News Translation and others take to refer to God feeding Israel, parallel with I would satisfy you in verse 16b.15-16 Hebrew Old Testament Text Project considers two textual questions in verse 16 (“I/he would make him eat” and “I/he would satisfy you”) and sets forth its interpretation of verses 14-16. The meaning given for verses 14-15 (Hebrew verses 15-16) is quite clear, but that of verse 16 (Hebrew verse 17) is most unclear: “while he had fed them with a flour of wheat, and I would fill you with honey of the rocks.” In the context “he” seems to be (the people of) Israel; “them” is the enemies of Israel; “I” is God; and “you” is the people of Israel. In languages in which wheat is unknown, a local grain of importance to the diet may be substituted, or in the absence of that, it is possible to use a generic term for grain.

Honey from the rock is taken by most to mean wild honey (see Deut 32.13); Dahood, however, translates “essence of honey.” New English Bible transfers verse 16 to follow immediately after verse 7; this is not recommended.

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 .