Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 18:28)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 18:28:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “You Jehovah, keep my lamp that it burns continuously;
    my God has turned my darkness into light.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O LORD, God!
    You have kindled a lamp for me.
    Doing away with the darkness You have shown me light.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “LORD my God, you (sing.) (are) my light.
    In darkness you (sing.) (are) my lamp.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Oh God, you illuminate in order that I might see. You allow me to come out of dark places, then live in light places.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD, you are like my lamp that gives light,
    my God turn my darkness to be light.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee Bwana, unaniwashia taa yangu.
    Mungu wangu, unaifanya giza kuwa nuru kwangu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You give light to my soul/spirit;
    you take away the darkness of my soul.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 19:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 19:10:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “they are of a greater value than gold,
    more than real gold;
    they are sweeter than honey,
    more than honey from its comb.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “They are more pleasing than gold,
    even than fine gold,
    and [they] are sweeter than honey,
    [even] sweeter than honey which comes from the comb.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “These things (are) more valuable than pure gold.
    And more sweet than pure [intensifier] honey.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “All of those things are more precious than gold, more precious than the finest grade of gold. And sweeter than honey, surely sweeter than the finest grade of honey.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “They more than pure gold,
    even more than very much gold,
    they are very sweet more than pure honey
    even honey from honey comb much.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Zinatamanisha kuzidi dhahabu,
    kuzidi dhahabu nzuri sana.
    Tamu kuzidi asali,
    kuzidi sega la asali.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “The things that God has decided are more valuable than gold,
    even the finest/purest gold.
    They are sweeter than honey
    that drips from honeycombs.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 22:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 22:6:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “But I am a worm not a human being,
    laughed and scorned by all the people” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “As for me, I am only a worm am, not a man,
    one who has to be belittled and insulted by everyone!” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “I am-put-to-shame and the people treat- (me) -badly.
    They say that I (am) like a worm and not a man.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “There are those who say I am like a wormlike insect, no longer a person. Everyone makes fun of and hates me.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “But, I stay just like a worm, I do not stay like human being,
    and people hated at me.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mimi ni kiwavi tu, sio mtu.
    Watu wananidharau na kunipuuza.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “But you have not rescued me
    People despise me and consider that I am not a man;
    they think that I am as worthless as a worm! Everyone scorns me and despises me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 24:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 24:1:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “The earth belongs to Jehovah and all that is in it,
    the world and all who live in it;” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “The earth and all that is in the earth is the LORD’s.
    The world and all who live in the world are the LORD’s.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “The whole world and everything in it belongs-to the LORD.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “The earth and everything on the earth, surely God rules everything, including all the people who live under the sky covering.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The LORD is the owner of the world and all things it has,
    land and all people who live in it.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyaneka:
    “Earth and-what is-in-it is the Lord God’s,
    world and-things all which-are-in it.” (Source: Christopher S. Tachick in Wendland / Zogbo 2019, p. 84ff.)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Nchi na vyote ambavyo vimo vya Bwana,
    na wote ambao wanaokaa humo wake.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “The earth and everything in it belongs to Yahweh;
    all the people in the world belong to him, too,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 26:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 26:1:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Judge me You Jehovah
    for I have lived an innocent life.
    I have relied on Jehovah
    without being shaken.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O LORD, show everyone that I have no guilt.
    For I have only done work that is good and true.
    And I have trusted in the LORD without drawing back at all.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Prove, LORD, that I do- not- have sin,
    for I live without blame
    and I trust in you (sing.) without any doubting/[lit. two-by-two].” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “O God! Request you say for other people to know I don’t have any sin, because I have done all things right, and I trust/believe you with all my breath.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD, said that I am blameless,
    because I have lived in life which has no bad matters.
    I put my hearts on the LORD
    and I am not doubting.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee Bwana, unitetee,
    kwa sababu mimi niko mnyofu katika maisha zangu wote,
    nimemtumaini BWANA,
    bila kutilia mashaka.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, show that I am innocent/have not done what is wrong.
    I always do what is right;
    I have trusted in you and never doubted that you would help me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 28:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 28:7:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Jehovah is my strength and my shield;
    my heart relies on Him, and I have been helped.
    My heart leaps because of joy
    and I will thank Him in a song.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “The LORD is my strength and my shield.
    I trust Him from the depths of my heart.
    He helps me, and my heart is full of joy.
    Praising Him I will sing songs.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (sing.) (are) the one (who) gives me strength and (who) protects me.
    I trust in you (sing.) and you (sing.) help me.
    So I really/[emphasis marker] rejoice and sing thanksgiving to you (sing.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “God blocks and protects me forever. I trust him with my whole heart. He helps and comforts my heart so that I am very happy. So, I thank him with very happy praise songs.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The LORD is my power and shield.
    I put my heart on him, and he will help me.
    My heart jumps with joy.
    I will sing a song of saying to him thanks.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Bwana ni nguvu yangu, tena ni ngao yangu.
    Moyo wangu unamtumaini, amenisaidia mimi.
    Moyo wangu umefurahi,
    nashukuru kwake na wimbo wangu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh makes me strong and protects me like a shield;
    I trusted in him, and he helped me.
    I was glad,
    and from my inner being I praised him as I sang to him.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 31:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 31:7:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I will rejoice and be happy in your love
    for you saw my afflictions
    and you know the pain of my life.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “I am rejoicing in Your never-ending love.
    You know my sorrow and my trouble.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “I will- really/[emphasis marker] -rejoice because of your (sing.) love,
    for you (sing.) saw my sufferings,
    and you (sing.) know my difficulties/troubles.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Surely I feel very happy, because you constantly love me. You have already seen the distress in my heart. And you know my troubles.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “I will be glad and rejoice, because of your love,
    because you saw my trouble
    and then you knew the pain of my spirit.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Nashangilia na kufurahi kwa neema yako,
    umeiona shida yangu,
    umeuona moyo wangu kuteswa.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “I will be very glad because you faithfully love me.
    You see me when I have been afflicted, and you have known when I have had troubles.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 33:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 33:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “For the words of Jehovah are righteous and true;
    He is faithful in everything that he does.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “For the Word of the LORD is true
    And all His work is trustworthy.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “For the word of the LORD (is) right,
    and all he does can-be-trusted.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “God’s words are true and certain. Everyone can trust all the works he does.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “For the word of the LORD is right, and it is true.
    He is Person who keeps all of word he says.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Bwana anasema ya unyofu,
    yote ambayo anafanya ni ya ukweli.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh always does what he says that he will do;
    we can trust that everything that he does is right.” (Source: Translation for Translators)