Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

This is a very difficult verse, and is variously translated. Take the following instances: - For from his youth he (the male orphan) was brought up with me as a father. Yea, I have guided her (the female orphan) from her mother's womb - Heath. Nam a pueris educavit me commiseratio; jam inde ab utero matris meae illa me deduxit - Houbigant. "For commiseration educated me from my childhood; And she brought me up even from my mother's womb." This is agreeable to the Vulgate. "Behold, from my youth calamity hath quickened me; Even from my mother's womb have I distributed it." This is Mr. Goods version, and is widely different from the above. For mercy grewe up with me fro my youth, And compassion fro my mother's wombe. Coverdale. Ὁτι εκ νεοτητος μου εξετρεφον ὡς πατηρ, και εκ γαστρος μητρος μου ὡδηγησα - Septuagint. "For from my youth I nourished them as a father; and I was their guide from my mother's womb." The Syriac. - "For from my childhood he educated me in distresses, and from the womb of my mother in groans." The Arabic is nearly the same. The general meaning may be gathered from the above; but who can reconcile such discordant translations?