Sound (Psalm 119:98)

Transliteration to pluralis inhumanis translation (using verb as third person, singular):

may'o'yevai tehakemaynee meetsvoteyha, kee le'o'lam hee-lee

Vocabulary Guide to translation using verb as third person, singular:

Your commandments will make me more wise than my enemies: For its wisdom belongs to me forever.

Notes: It seems the subject, “your commandments”--plural, does not agree in number with the verb (singular). This can still be acceptable as to the idea of pluralis inhumanis. See this site: I'm sorry but it seems the early edition of Gesenius is easier to follow and more full on this subject. Earlier books escape omissions—a word to the wise. The later edition of Gesenius is not too easy to follow on many subjects as you've probably noticed if you have tried to look up some parts of speech. (Nevertheless, make use of the books you already have and take a look at Index of Subjects, p. 540, then § 145 k and footnote 1 at the bottom of the page 464. There is also a reference at page 606, but not exactly what I was looking for.) However, just in case you aren't completely satisfied with that line of translation thought to this particular verse, I will make an alternative, matching translation and transliteration below.

Translation using verb as third person, singular:

Your commandments will make me more wise than my enemies: For its wisdom belongs to me forever.

Transliteration to translation using verb as second person, singular:

may'o'yevai tehakemaynee meetsvoteyha, kee le'o'lam hee-lee

KJV translates the verb as second person, not third person. It also does not make “commandments” the subject of the verse. So if we translate the sentence with a verb using second person, singular, it will go according to this transliteration. Notice the emphasis on the prefix te above and the corresponding You below.

Vocabulary Guide to translation using verb as second person, singular:

You will make me more wise than my enemies through your commandments: For its wisdom belongs to me forever.

Translation using verb as second person, singular:

You will make me more wise than my enemies through your commandments: For its wisdom belongs to me forever.

Further research and study:

The first translation seems to fit. However, I plan to do further research on manuscript observation, the sentence structure of this and similar verses, number and form of the verb haw-kam and similar verb forms, and perhaps other things pertaining to a more definite translation of this verse and translating in general. Until then, you will have to decide how you want to interpret it. Happy progressing and translating!

Gesenius Index of Passages: § 91 k, n

Go to verse 119:99