Poetic translation of Psalm 3:1-3

The following are two poetic translations of Psalm 3:1-3 produced in a workshop for translating the psalms so that they can be performed musically.

The first translation is in Meetto and the second in Kom.

Meetto:

1. Pwiya, enci thale eenani aka
 Lord, many are those (who are) my enemies

 Enci thale ankilupattha.
 Many are those who rise against me.

2. Ankuluma ari enci ni aneera
 Those who are against me are many and they say

 “Nluku awe khanonkavihera.”
 “His God will not help him.”

3. Nanso we Pwiya, thi we mwakiho aka,
 But you, Lord, it is you (who are) my shield/protection,

 Thi we utthapa waka, thi we ikuru caka.
 It is you (who are) my joy/glory, it is you who lifts my head.

Kom:

1. Mbàynì̶sɨ lali meyn a mɨ ibàm a Bôbo Fì̶yìnì dvî̶  kɨ tèyn.
 Many enemies have stood up behind me Lord.

 Ghelɨ awo abɨ-a jɨŋ meyn kàli mà nô sɨ idvì̶,
 Many bad people have surrounded me,

 Nà cho ’ àvɨ àkema.
 And are persecuting me.

2. Àŋena nɨn bê na, “Fì̶yìnì fì̶ nɨn gâmtì̶ wì ŋweyn.”
 They are saying that “God will not help him.”

3. Mɨtì wa ghɨ àbâ’ a mɨ atu a Bôbo,
 But you are an umbrella over me Lord,

 Ma wà ni meyn ma na ko ’nɨ-à.
 And you have made me to have honour.

 Wà lisi meyn ìwumi sɨ a mɨ atu.
 You have taken away shame from my head.

Source: June Dickie in The Bible Translator 2023, p. 192ff.

David

The name that is transliterated as “David” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign signifying king and a sling (referring to 1 Samuel 17:49 and 2 Samuel 5:4). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff.)


“Elizabeth” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In German Sign Language it is only the sling. (See here ).


“David” in German Sign Language (source )

The (Protestant) Mandarin Chinese transliteration of “David” is 大卫 (衛) / Dàwèi which carries an additional meaning of “Great Protector.”

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about David (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Translation commentary on Psalm 3:1 - 3:2

The psalmist complains to Yahweh about his enemies, who not only threaten him with harm (verse 1b) but also claim that God will not help him (verse 2). Nothing is said about why they are against him or the kind of danger they pose. Verses 1 and 2 show in their line arrangement a progression, in that in verse 1a the psalmist states his case. In verse 1b his enemies are rising against me. In verse 2a they go so far as to speak against him, and verse 2b gives the content of their talk, no help for him.

How many are my foes!: this word order is normally employed in a question; in English it is better to say “My foes are so many!”

Are rising against me: the verb “to rise” may mean “to rebel”; if correct, this implies that the psalmist is the king. See the use of the verb in 2 Samuel 18.31-32.

Are saying of me: literally “are talking about my soul.” The Hebrew noun for “soul,” nefesh, is often used to refer to the whole person, and in such instances it should not be translated by “soul” or “spirit.” See note on nefesh at the end of this psalm (page 40).

There is no help for him in God: the noun translated help may also be translated “salvation,” “deliverance,” “rescue”; in some instances it may mean “victory” (New English Bible). It is better to use a verb to translate it here: “God will not save him!” or “God is not going to help him!”

Selah: the meaning of the Hebrew selah which occurs 71 times in Psalms, continues to be unknown. The Septuagint translates “musical pause”; most modern translations that represent the word have simply “Selah” (American Standard Version, An American Translation, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version), which means nothing. Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and Bible en français courant have “pause”; Moffatt, Zürcher Bibel, New English Bible, German common language translation (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch), and Good News Translation omit. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has a long footnote, giving the probable meaning of the word, and justifying its exclusion from the text. Unless a translator feels sufficiently assured of the meaning of the word so as to be able to translate it, it seems best to omit it. Most probably the word was not part of the original text of the individual psalms.

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 .