Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 42:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 42:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “These things I remember
    when I am emptying my life:
    how I went with a large group,
    leading the movements to the House of God
    with a shout of joy and thanksgiving
    in the midst of the people of the celebration.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “When I remembered former things, my heart was about to burst.
    I used to go with a group of people.
    Being a leader of people
    I used to go to the temple of God
    rejoicing with singing and praise.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “My feelings (are) hurt when I remember that before I used-to-lead/[lit. -head] many people to-go to your (sing.) temple.
    And we (excl.) would-celebrate with cheerful-shouting of joy and thanksgiving to you (sing.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “All these things I remember when I think in my heart about all the things that already happened. At that time I went with many people to go to the big worshiping house wanting to worship God. Surely I led them when they went, when they shouted and sang praise to God.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “I remember these things,
    when I tell God all the matters of my spirit.
    I walked with a large crowd.
    I went with them to the House of God,
    we sang in loud voice, and we told God, thanks
    among the crowd at the feast.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Moyo wangu unauma wakati nakumbuka ya zamani,
    wakati ule natembea na kundi la watu,
    kuwaongoza kwenda katika hekalu,
    kwa furaha na kumsifu Mungu,
    katika mkutano wa sikukuu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “I am very distressed as I remember when I went with the crowd of people to the temple in Jerusalem,
    leading them as we walked along;
    we were all shouting joyfully and singing to thank God for what he had done;
    we were a large group who were celebrating.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 44:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 44:20:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Had we forgotten the name of our God
    or stretch out our hands to strange gods,” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “If we had forgotten the name of God
    and if we had lifted our hands in prayer to other gods,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “If we (excl.) had- already -forgotten you (sing.), O God, and we (excl.) were-praying to the other gods,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “If we stop worshiping you, God, or we pray to another God,” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “If we forgot the name of our God,
    or worshipped a foreign god,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kama tungekusahau, wewe ee Mungu wetu,
    au tuliabudu kwa miungu,” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “If we had forgotten to worship our God, or if we had spread out our hands to worship a foreign god,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 3:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 3:5:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I lie down and find sleep;
    I also wake up because Jehovah upholds me.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “I lay down to sleep and got up again,
    because the LORD protected me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “And because you (sing.) have-watched-over me, I have-been-able-to-sleep and still able-to-wake-up.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “In the evening I lie down and sleep soundly all night, because God cares for me.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “I lay down, and sleep,
    then I wake up again, because of the LORD who take care of me.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Najilaza na kulala usingizi,
    basi naamka vizuri kwa maana wewe ee BWANA unanilinda.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “At night I lie down and sleep, and I awake in the morning feeling good/refreshed
    because you, Yahweh, take care of/protect me all during the night.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 6:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 6:9:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Jehovah has heard my plea seeking mercy;
    Jehovah has received my prayer.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “The LORD has heard my prayer.
    The LORD will answer my prayer.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “He has-heard my asking-for help.
    And he will-answer my prayer.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “God has already listened to my voice praying requesting, and he has already responded to my words of prayer.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The LORD heard my cry for his mercy,
    my LORD accepted my prayer.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “BWANA amesikia kusihi kwangu,
    BWANA amepokea sala yangu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh heard me when I was crying and called out to him to help me,
    and he will answer my prayer.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 9:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 9:5:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “You have rebuked human races and you have destroyed wicked people;
    You have erased their name forever.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “You have threatened the nations.
    And destroyed the evil persons.
    You have wiped out their names forever.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (sing.) have-sentenced and have-destroyed the wicked nations.
    therefore they will- no-longer -be-remembered forever/until the-end/[lit. until whenever].” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “You judged every person who didn’t respect you, and you destroyed the wicked, not allowing anyone to remember their names anymore.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You rebuked people of nations, and you killed bad people.
    You removed their names completely.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Umewakemea watu wa makabila mengine,
    umewangamiza watenda mabaya,
    majina yao umeyafuta kabisa.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You rebuked the people of other nations and you have gotten rid of the wicked people;
    you have erased their names forever.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 10:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 10:17:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “You hear You Jehovah, the desires of the afflicted;
    you encourage them and you hear their cry.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “You do listen sincerely, giving ear to the voice of those in trouble.
    You strengthen their hearts.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (sing.) heard, LORD, the prayer of the lowly-ones.
    Listen to their prayer and strengthen them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Oh God, surely you listen to the voice of prayer from poor people. Surely you help them have bold gall bladders.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD, you are listening to the word that people desire who suffer,
    you are encouraging them, and you hear their crying,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee BWANA, unasikia maombi ya wahitaji,
    unawatia nguvu na kusikia kilio chao.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You have listened to afflicted/suffering people when they cry out to you.
    You hear them when they pray, and you encourage them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 15:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 15:3:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “and out of his mouth does not come slanderous words,
    who does no harm to his neighbor
    or spread bad rumor about his fellow human,” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “who does not go on maligning others,
    who does not keep on causing pain to the hearts of his neighbors
    who does not go on lying about his friends,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “He/she does- not -make-up-accusations-against/slander others,
    and he/she does- not -do or speak bad to his fellowman.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “And he who doesn’t affix blame to others. And he who doesn’t do bad things to his friend. And he who does not speak badly about others.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “a person who has no slander,
    and person who does not treat his neighbor badly,
    and a man who does not insult his friend,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “ambaye hawaongopei watu,
    ambaye hamtendei mabaya mwenzake,
    ambaye hamteti jirani yake.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “and they do not slander others.
    They do not do to others things that are wrong, and they do not say bad things about others.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 18:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 18:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “The ropes of death surrounded me;
    the running rivers of destruction terrified me a lot.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “I got tangled up in the rope of death.
    I was swept away by a river of trouble.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Death seems like a cord/rope that entangles me and like a trap/snare on my way/path.
    Destruction seems like a strong flood/that covers/washes-over me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “It is like a knotted string grasping strongly my neck nearing death. The thing that wants to kill me never ceases.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The ropes of death tied me
    and flood of death rolled me.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kamba za kifo zilinizunguka,
    mafuriko ya maangamizi yalinikuta.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “All around me were dangerous situations in which I might be killed;
    it was as though there were huge waves that almost crashed on me and killed me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)