20:13a

Woman: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Woman is a polite way to address a woman. See how you translated this word in 2:4, 4:21, and 19:26. Use a term of address that is polite and natural in your language. For example:

Dear woman (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Miss/Ma’am

If there is no suitable polite term of address for a woman, it may be natural to just leave it out. It may be best to avoid words such as “sister,” because the speakers were angels, not humans. Consider if there is a polite term of address that a non-human might use to address a human woman. Or you may want to leave out the term of address. For example:

Why are you crying? (Contemporary English Version)

Another way to avoid using a term of address is to use an indirect quotation. For example:

The angels asked her why she was crying. (God’s Word)

why are you weeping?: The angels asked Mary to tell them the reason why she was crying. They knew why Mary was crying and that she did not need to cry (because Jesus was alive). They knew why the tomb was empty. Translate this question in a kind, natural way to ask why someone is doing something that is not necessary. For example:

Tell us why you are weeping.
-or-
What is the reason for your tears?

you: This pronoun is feminine singular and refers to Mary.

they asked: The pronoun they refers to the two angels. Because the angels appeared to people in the form of human men, you should probably use a masculine plural (or dual) pronoun. Because what the angels said was a question, you may want to indicate that here. And it may be more natural to identify one or both pronouns. For example:

they asked her (Good News Translation)
-or-
The angels asked Mary (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
The angels asked her (God’s Word)

20:13b

Because they have taken my Lord away: This clause is Mary’s answer to the angel’s question. It gives the reason why Mary was weeping. Translate this clause in a way that is natural for an answer to a question that asks why. See how you translated the similar clause “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb” in 20:2. For example:

Because they have taken away my Lord (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

⌊I am crying because⌋ they took away my Lord.

they: This pronoun is indefinite. Mary did not know who did this. It is more natural in some languages to use an indefinite pronoun or a passive sentence. For example:

someone has taken my Lord away
-or-
my Lord has been taken away

have taken my Lord away: Mary meant that someone must have removed Jesus’ body and taken it somewhere else. Mary did not think that Jesus was living. Use an expression that is natural for lifting up and moving a dead body. For example:

have taken away my Lord’s body (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
have removed ⌊the body of⌋ my Lord

my Lord: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord means “master” or “one who has authority over others.” People used this word as a polite title when they spoke to an elder or someone in authority. Mary indicated that Jesus was in authority over her in some way. The Jews also used this same title to refer to God.

See how you translated the word Lord in 20:2. It is good to use the same word here. However, here Mary says my Lord rather than “the Lord.” For example:

my Master
-or-
the one I obey/serve

she said: The Berean Standard Bible has this quote introducer after the quotation. The Greek has placed the quote introducer before the quotation, as is sometimes more natural in English. Place this quote introducer where it is most natural in your language.

20:13c

and: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and here introduces another part of the reason why Mary was crying. In some languages it may be natural to leave this conjunction untranslated and to begin a new sentence. For example:

They have taken away my Lord’s body! I don’t know where they have put him (Contemporary English Version)

I do not know where they have put Him: Mary did not understand that Jesus had risen. See how you translated the similar clause in 20:2. However, there Mary used the plural pronoun “we” rather than the singular pronoun I as she does here. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I do not know where they have taken his body to.

where they have put Him: The pronoun they is indefinite. Mary did not have any particular person in mind. She thought that someone took his body, but did not know who. In some languages it may be more natural to translate this idea using a passive verb. For example:

where he has been put
-or-
where his body has been laid

Him: This pronoun refers to Jesus’ body. See how you translated “my Lord” in 20:13a and use the pronoun that is natural in this context. For example:

Because they removed the body/corpse of my Lord and I do not know where they put it.

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