Davar4: Examples - Translation of Psalm 117

Examples - Translation of Psalm 117

Let's show some of Davar's functions by translating a real text from the Bible. For the purpose of this example, the following files are presumed open:

Biblia Hebraica (BHS)
Hebrew-English dictionary (He-En)
Hebrew Strongs IPD lexicon (STR_IPD_HE)
Bright-Driver-Briggs lexicon (BDB)
BHS unaccented with Strongs (BHS+) [file is not a part of default installation. How to get and install this file?]

All these files are included in the basic English version of the installation, except BHS+ (you have to download this from the program home page). Your program layout can look similar to the picture below (program window resized to small size):

We will use: BLUE COLOR for pronunciation of the text and RED COLOR for the pressed keys for entering the Hebrew text

You can easily navigate to our text: with the BHS window active, type ps117 in the Command Line Navigator edit field and press Enter. Note: for non-English languages of this program this string can be different.

Psalm 117 from Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (1967):

Haaleloo

To enter the root word, press keys h l l. In the H->E dictionary, a translation is found: be praised, praise.
Now, press the right mouse button on the hebrew word (HaLeL) on the first line of the listing and select command "Look at". All other lexicons will be synchronised and we can study this root.
Hebrew Strong IPD lexicon also mentions "to praise".

Switch to the BDB lexicon, and scroll though the word meanings. There is a note that says this word is usually used to praise (Elohim).

The last character in the word is WAV with dagesh, pronounced as long 'u'. That suggests that the word is a plural imperative. Therefore, we translate Halelu as praise.

et-YHWH

Here, two words are connected with a dash (maqqef). We will look for the first word: Enter it in the right edit field by the keyboard using a t.

The H->E dictionary informs us it is the mark of the definite accusative.
Double clicking left mouse button in BHS with Strongs (H853) will synchronise Hebrew Strongs IPD lexicon - we can now read: "sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative"

The second word is entered by the keys y h w h. The H->E dictionary translates this as the Name of G-D, Hashem, Adonai. God's name is often substituted with Adonai (Lord) out of respect. However, in this instance, we will simply transliterate it as YHWH.

kol goyim

Here again, there are two words connected with a dash (maqqef).

Find the first word by pressing the keys k l. The H->E dictionary translates this word as all, every, any.

The second word has the suffix "im", suggesting the word is probably plural masculine. Find the singular form (g o y). The H->E dictionary translates this as a nation.

The Hebrew Strongs IPD lexicon describes this word also as usually of non-Hebrew people and Goyim? = "nations". Here we will translate it as all nations.

shabbekhuhu

Look for the first part of the word using the keys w b x. Strong IPD lexicon translates this as to laud, praise (God). The imperative form of this word is "shabbakhoo". The connected suffix "hu" (look up h j to translate it) means singular masculine: he. When adapted to English grammar in this context: him.

In this case, we will translate it as: laud him.

kol ha-ummim

The first word here we have already translated as all, every, any.

The second word here has the definite article "ha" prefixed. Next comes the root "am" and the suffix "im". Look up a m in the H->E dictionary, and find the word mother. This word is probably the base for another word, look up a m h (Strongs#: H523). See people, tribe, nation.
We can search for all uses of H523 in the OT: in the window of BHS with Strongs, just right click to H523. This Strong is automatically selected and the first command in the context menu is "Search...". When we use this command - a search dialog is opened and it is automatically recognized that we want to search for Strong # (and Strongs tab is used). We can press the "Find" button. Search dialog is switched to the last tab - results with a list of hits and preview. Also, new daughter window is created with all the verses found and colored H523.
As we can see, H523 is used except for Ps117:1, Genesis 25:16 [KJV+ use "nations"] and Numbers 25:15 [KJV+ use "people"]

So we can translate kol ha-ummim as all tribes.

ki

The H->E dictionary translates k y as because.

gaavar

This word has more meanings, in the BDB lexicon it is translated as be strong, mighty, prevail.

aleinoo

The suffix "nu" is first person plural. If we look for the meaning of the first two consonants i l, the H->E dictionary shows on, upon, over, about.

This word together with the previous one can be translated as (there is) upon us mightily.

khasdo

The root word (x c d) is translated in the H->E dictionary as loyalty, the BDB lexicon translates it as God's kindness, lovingkindness, the Hebrew IPD lexicon as goodness, kindness, faithfulness

The possessive suffix 'o' stands for the third person masculine singular. So we can translate this as His mercy.

ve-emet YHWH

The first consonant "ve" is a conjunction, usually translated as "and".

The word a m t in the H->E dictionary is translated as truth.

The second word is God's Sacred Name YHWH

So we can translate this compound expression as and the truth of YHWH.

le ollahm

The preposition (l) has many meanings, e.g. to, at, for, towards.

The rest of the word (i o l m) is translated in H->E dictionary as forever, world, universe. The Hebrew IPD lexicon informs us about for ever, always, continuous existence, perpetual, everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity.

Thus the compound can be translated as forever

haaleloo YAH

First word was translated already, so we can close the Psalm with: praise YAH

Now, our translation of Psalm 117 will be:

For comparison, we can consult other translations: