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The Psalms Targum: An English Translation

by Edward M. Cook

Notes on Translation

The following notes may be helpful in the use of this English translation of the Psalms Targum. An introduction to some of the issues involved in the study and translation of this Targum may be found in the forthcoming Ernest G. Clarke memorial volume, to which the interested reader is referred.

  1. The numbering of the chapters and verses is according to the Masoretic text.
  2. Certain conventions of translation should be noted. The prepositions QDM/MN-QDM are usually translated Òin the presence of/from the presence of.Ó The noun MEMRA is not transliterated but is translated variously as Òword,Ó Òcommand,Ó Òdecree,Ó etc. The noun ORAYTA is translated ÒTorah.Ó The Tetragrammaton is translated as ÒLORDÓ in small caps.
  3. The translation was originally intended for New Testament scholars who wished to examine the text for its relevance to New Testament background. Therefore certain locutions of interest to NT scholars such as ÒabbaÓ (my father) are indicated in the translation. In addition, the phrase Òson of man/sons of menÓ is translated literally wherever it occurs.
  4. Text not represented in some way in the Hebrew original is signaled by italics. The absence of italics should not be construed to mean that the targum translates literally.
  5. Aramaic verbs are translated literally; that is, perfects are generally translated as past tense, imperfects as future or jussive, participles as general present.
  6. The text translated is that of Paul de Legarde in Hagiographa Chaldaice. It has been collated with only one other text, the MS published by Luis Diez Merino (Madrid, 1982). The footnotes give four kinds of information: (1) most frequently the variant readings of the Spanish MS; (2) alternative renderings of the translation; (3) remarks on the text critical value of a certain reading, if the reading has not been cited in the apparatus of Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; (4) other kinds of information, such as references to lexicons or parallels in rabbinic literature. The latter two categories are very unsystematic and make no pretense of being comprehensive; more may be added in future editions.
  7. Variation in the two collated texts between the use of the names of GodÑe.g., ÒGodÓ instead of Òthe LORDÓ or vice versaÑis not noted.

The collation of the texts was carried out under the auspices of the Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon.

In the Psalter issued by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy, the editors say, ÒThis translation is offered for study and for comment.Ó The same is true of the present on-line publication. The author welcomes comments and corrections, which will be duly noted and credited in future versions. Please send them to Edward Cook, c/o The Office of the Newsletter for Targum and Cognate Studies (Online Editor, C. M. M. Brady, <cbrady@tulane.edu>).

© 2001 Edward M. Cook

 

The Psalms Targum

All texts included in the following links are copyright © 2001 Edward M. Cook.

Online Editor's note: The Hebrew font employed in the notes is SPTiberian, available in Mac and Windows format from <http://www.ccel.org/help/fonts/>. This text may not appear properly on all systems. I am working on a better system. - Cb.

Book 1 Psalms 1-41
Book 2 Psalms 42-72
Book 3 Psalms 73-89
Book 4 Psalms 90-106
Book 5 Psalms 106-150