Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 3:5:
- Uma: “So, because of the actions of men that are not upright, the uprightness of God becomes apparent. But let’s not say/think like this: ‘If that’s the case, if God punishes evil men, he is not upright.’ There are indeed men who think like that,” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “Perhaps some say, ‘If we (dual) do bad, it is good also because if people think about our (dual) bad doings and God’s doings, they really understand that God’s doings are very good then they praise him. Na, if they praise God because of our (dual) evil deeds, God is not straight if he punishes us (dual) because of the bad we (dual) have done.’ (This is what some say.)” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And there are some foolish (pilusupu) people who will say, ‘If we (incl.) do evil, that is also good because when people think about our (incl.) evil doings, and the doings of God, certainly they will understand that, by contrast, the behavior of God is very good and they will praise Him and that will be very good. And if,’ they say, ‘good came about because of the evil that we (incl.) did, it’s not right for God to punish us because of the evil that we (incl.) did.’ Words like this are foolish.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “There are reportedly excuse-makers (pilosopo = people who invent arguments, usually to excuse their own conduct) who say that God is doing what is not right if he punishes us, because his righteousness is reportedly seen increasingly/especially when it is compared to our sinning.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “But if the evil which we do is that which shows that God is supremely good, what then shall we say about it? Can we say that it is not right that God punishes us then? Because this is the way people speak.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
