St. Lucia.
_Trench on Proverbs._--Mr. Trench, in this excellent little work, states
that the usual translation of Psalm cxxvii. 2. is incorrect:
"Let me remind you of such [proverbs] also as the following, often
quoted or alluded to by Greek and Latin authors: _The net of the
sleeping (fisherman) takes_[3]; a proverb the more interesting, that we
have in the words of the Psalmist (Ps. cxxvii. 2.), were they
accurately translated, a beautiful and perfect parallel; 'He giveth his
beloved' (not 'sleep,' but) 'in their sleep;' his gifts gliding into
their bosoms, they knowing not how, and as little expecting as leaving
laboured for them."
The Hebrew is [Hebrew: YTN LYDYDW SHN'], the literal translation of which,
"He giveth (or, He will give) to his beloved sleep," seems to me to be
correct.
As Mr. Trench is a reader of "N. & Q.," perhaps he would have the kindness
to mention in its pages the ground he has for his proposed translation.