Biblical Hebrew Forum

["K Randolph" <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Bob:

As you said at the end, translating is dangerous work. The first time
you try it, you will make many mistakes. The same with the second
time, but fewer. The third time still many places that don't make
sense, so are mistranslated, but fewer than the second time. Maybe by
the time you have read the text through 10 times, or 15, then it will
start making sense, but even then there will be places that you still
don't understand, and you may mistranslate. I'm just talking from my
own experience.

On 12/4/06, Bob MacDonald <bobmacdonald AT shaw.ca> wrote:
> Karl invites: Go ahead and ask them. But remember that even a fool will be
> considered wise if he keeps his mouth shut.
>
> OK - but there are too many - here just three
>
> 1. Is there an alternative reading for )XT (Psalm 89:35) other than as a
> synonym for )HD as suggested by BDB?  Could it be the first person imperfect
> of something?
Why should it be something different?

> 2. Who is the subject of the verbs in Psalm 7:12-16? (for my raw translation
> see http://bmd.gx.ca/psalms/177.htm
Going back to my favorite word, context. What does the context say? I
think that will give you your answer.

> 3. I have already said that translating is dangerous work - how will one
> deal with the accusation against God in psalm 89:38 except by
> understatement?
What accusation? The psalmist, Eitan the Ezrachite, when did he write?
Could it have been during the Babylonian Exile? It appears that way.
Throughout the psalm, he mentions that God is true, and keeps his
promises, both those that give pleasure, and those that give us pain.
In the case of the people of Anointed (verse 39 in Hebrew) when they
broke God's commands, he treated them exactly as he promised in
Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. Eitan's plaint was that it hurts, but
he still called on the trustworthiness of God.

> http://bmd.gx.ca/psalms/261.htm - I may stop here and go to another psalm!
>
> There are dozens of others - but that's enough for now
>
> Bob
>
> Bob MacDonald
> Victoria BC
> http://gx.ca
> http://bmd.gx.ca

Karl W. Randolph.