Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 42:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 42:9:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I am saying that to God my Rock,
    ‘Why have you forgotten me?
    Why should I walk while crying,
    oppressed by an enemy?’” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “I say to God my rock,,
    ‘Why have you forgotten me?
    Why should I have to keep on morning
    because my enemies oppress me?"” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “O God my protecting/place-to-hide/place-of-refuge rock/stone, I am-saying to you (sing.),
    ‘Why have- you (sing.) -forgotten me?
    Why must I mourn because of the oppression of me by the enemies?’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “I ask from God, the one who protects me like this: "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I suffer adversity from people who hate me?"” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “I say to my God who is my mountain who keeps me,
    ‘Why have you forgotten me?
    why do I cry,
    because my enemies disturbed me?” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Namwambia Mungu, ambaye ni mwamba wangu,
    nasema, ‘Kwa nini umenisahau?
    Kwa nini nihuzunike na kuonewa na maadui?’” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “I say to God, who is like an overhanging rock under which I can hide,
    ‘It seems that you have forgotten me.
    I <mourn/ cry> constantly because my enemies act cruelly toward me’.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 44:25)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 44:25:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “We have been brought down up to the dust;
    Our bodies are stuck to the soil.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “We have become all messed up in the dust.
    Our bodies are stuck in the mud.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “We (excl.) have-fallen to/on the ground and can- not -rise-up anymore.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “It is like we have fallen to the ground, and others step on us like dust.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “We are push down to the ground
    and our faces stay on the dust.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Tumeangukia chini penye udongo,
    miili yetu inalala penye vumbi.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “We are pushed down to the ground and we cannot get up.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 2:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 2:11:

  • Chichewa Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero translation, 2002/2016:
    “Serve Jehovah with fear
    and celebrate his reign with trembling.” (Source: Chichewa Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Praise the LORD with fear.
    and find pleasure in trembling.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “[You (plur.)] serve the LORD with respect
    and [you (plur.)] be-happy in him.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “You must fear (lit. shake with fear) God, and feel very good about honoring him.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You (plur.) work for LORD with fear,
    and you change your bad ways with trembling.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mumtumikie BWANA na kumtii,
    tena furahini na kutetemeka.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Serve Yahweh, fervently revering him;
    Rejoice about what he has done for you, but tremble before him!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 6:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 6:3:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “My life is in great sufferings.
    Until when, You Jehovah, until when?” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “My heart is very painful.
    O LORD, How long must I wait?” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “I (am) now very troubled, LORD.
    When will- yet you (sing.) -heal me?” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Oh God, how much longer till you help concerning this sadness? Request you help in order to have wellness/peace.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “My heart is worried.
    For how long LORD, for how long?” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Napata taabu sana katika moyo wangu.
    Ee BWANA, nitakuwa kama hivi hadi lini?” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, I am greatly distressed.
    How long must I endure this/will it be before you help me?” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 8:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 8:8:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “birds of the sky
    and fish of the lake
    everything that moves down on the lake.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “[over] the birds that fly in the skies and the fish that swim in the water,
    and even [over] all the animals of the sea.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “the-(ones-that) fly, and the-(ones-that) swim.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “birds that fly, fish that live in the sea, and every other thing that lives under the sea.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “birds of sky
    and fish of seas,
    and all things that walk in seas.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “ndege wa katika anga, samaki katika bahari,
    na viumbe vyote vya katika bahari.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “the birds, the fish,
    and everything else that swims in the seas.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 10:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 10:11:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “He says in his heart, ‘God has forgotten,
    he has hidden his face and is not seeing.’” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “They think –
    ‘God will not take care of them.
    He has turned his face away,
    and will not see anything.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “They think that God does- not -pay-attention and does- not -see at what they are-doing.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Those wicked people they think like this: "God has forgotten all the bad things we have done. He closes his eyes, he doesn’t see the bad things we do."” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “He says to himself that, ‘These people were forgotten by God.
    God covers his face, and he will not see.’” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mtenda dhambi anafikiri anasema,
    ‘Mungu amesahau, amejiziba usoni, haoni.’” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Wicked people say, ‘God will not pay any attention to what we do.
    His eyes are covered, so he never sees anything.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 14:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 14:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Do the people who do evil not know anything?
    They are eating my people like their food
    and they do not praise Jehovah?” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Will those who keep on doing evil ever learn?
    They are eating our people like they eat bread..
    And they do not even mention the name of the LORD.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Do- these wicked people -not know what they are-doing? Of-course they-know!
    They in-fact extort/obtain-by-improper-pressure (money) from my fellowmen/countrymen as-if they are- just -gobbleing-up/devouring/swallowing-whole food,
    and they do not pray to the LORD.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “God asks this: "Do bad people lack the ability to think? Are all of them ignorant? They live in this age, they want to constantly snatch away my people. And they never call out praying asking anything from me."” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Will bad people not ever learn?
    They who eat my people like they always eat food,
    and they do not pray to the LORD .” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Je, watenda mabaya hawaelewi?
    Wanawala watu wangu kama mikate,
    wameacha kumwabudu BWANA.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Will those evil people never learn what God will do to punish them?
    They act violently toward Yahweh’s people while eating the food that he provides,
    and they never pray to Yahweh.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 17:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 17:13:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Awake You Jehovah, contend with them and knock them down;
    deliver me from the wicked with your sword.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O LORD! Come,
    Oppose our enemies,
    and defeat them.
    Save me from the wicked with Your sword.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Go-on now, LORD, go-against and defeat my wicked enemies.
    Save me from them by-means-of your (sing.) power.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Oh God! Request that you block these bad people. Request that you help me escape from the hands of bad people by means of your sword.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD you come to fight with my enemies and you defeat them,
    save me from bad people by your sword.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee Bwana, simama, ukutane nao, uwangushe,
    na upanga wako uniokoe kwa waovu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, come and oppose/fight against my enemies and defeat them!
    Use your sword to save me from those wicked people!” (Source: Translation for Translators)