Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 50:2:
- Kupsabiny: “Why was no one at home when I came?
And why did no one hear me when I called?
Was I so weak that I was unable to rescue you?
Or could I not at all save you?
I can say to the ocean
and the rivers to dry up.
Thirst would kill the fish
and make it rot for the lack of water.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation) - Newari: “Why wasn’t there even a single person there when I came?
Why wasn’t there even a single [person] there to give an answer when I called?
What! Has my hand become too short to be able to set you free?
What! Have I lost the power to save?
When I speak with my mouth the ocean becomes dry ground.
And rivers change into the wilderness.
And not having water there, the fish will rot and feeling /phyarə phyarə/ (फ्यार फ्यार) will die.” (Source: Newari Back Translation) - Hiligaynon: “How come you (plur.) did- not -pay-attention when I arrived? Why you (plur.) did- not -answer when I called? Am I not able to save you (plur.)? I am even able-to-dry-up the sea in just one command and make the desert into rivers, which will be the reason of the dying of the fish.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
- English: “When I came to you to rescue you,
why did no one answer when I called out to you ?
Was there no one there ?
Or, did you think that I do not have the power to rescue you ?
Think about this:
I can speak to a sea and cause it to become dry!
I can cause rivers to become deserts,
with the result that the fish in the rivers die from thirst and they rot.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
