mercy

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin terms that are typically translated as “mercy” (or “compassion” or “kindness”) in English are translated in various ways. Bratcher / Nida classify them in (1) those based on the quality of heart, or other psychological center, (2) those which introduce the concept of weeping or extreme sorrow, (3) those which involve willingness to look upon and recognize the condition of others, or (4) those which involve a variety of intense feelings.

While the English mercy originates from the Latin merces, originally “price paid,” Romance languages (Italian, Spanish, Corsican, Catalan) and other Germanic languages (German, Swedish, Danish — Barmherzigkeit, barmhärtighet and barmhjertighed, respectively) tend to follow the Latin misericordia, lit. “misery-heart.”

Here are some other (back-) translations:

See also steadfast love.

steadfast love

The Hebrew that is translated as “steadfast love,” “lovingkindness” or similar in English is translated in Vidunda as “love of enduring.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

In Bura-Pabir it is translated as hyirkur na a palidzi wa or “love which cannot be-changed” and in the Hausa Common Language Ajami Bible as kaunarsa marar canjawa or “his love without changing.” (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

In Pijin tinghevi long or “think heavy about” is used. “The Pijin expression ‘think heavy about’ is very much within the domain of committed relationships. The relationship between father and child, husband and wife, God and His people. There is a very strong element of ‘loyalty’ in this expression.” (Source: Bob Carter)

See also mercy and pain-love.

Translation commentary on Proverbs 19:22

“What is desired in a man is loyalty”: This line says “The desire of a man is his chesed,” which can mean “kindness,” “love,” or “loyalty.” “Desire of a man” is ambiguous since it can mean what the man desires in himself or others, or what others desire in a man. Contemporary English Version attempts to avoid the ambiguity by translating “What matters most is loyalty.” The Good News Translation footnote translation “Loyalty is what is desired in a person” agrees with Revised Standard Version.

Some interpreters take chesed to be a different word than the one most often rendered as “loyalty.” This word occurs in 14.34, where Revised Standard Version translates it “reproach,” but it can also be rendered “disgrace” or “humiliation.” If “desire” is taken as “greed” (see the Good News Translation text), then this line may be translated, for example, “A person’s greed is a disgrace” or “Greedy people are a disgrace.”

“And a poor man is better than a liar”: Whybray observes that the word rendered “liar” here is also used in 6.19; 14.5, 25; 19.5, 9; and in each case it refers to a lying witness. If that is true, then the thought expressed in this line is that it is better to be poor than to gain money or other advantages by lying in court. We may then translate, for example, “Greedy people are a disgrace, and it is better to be poor than to lie to a judge.

Or: “People who are loyal cause others to like them. It is better to be poor than to win a case by lying.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .