Language-specific Insights

vindicate

The Hebrew that is translated in English as “vindicate (me)” or “judge (me favorably)” is translated in these ways:

  • Kupsabiny: “declare me righteous” (source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “show everyone that I have no guilt” (source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “prove that I do not have sin” (source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru: “request you say for other people to know I don’t have any sin” (source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim: “say that I am blameless” (source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Hausa: “show that I am lacking fault” (source: Hausa Common Language Bible Back Translation)
  • Mandarin Chinese / German: “give me justice” (Source: Zetzsche)
  • English Translation for Translators: “show that I am innocent/have not done what is wrong” / Easy English Bible: “show that I am not guilty of wrong things”

See also vindicated.

cymbals

The musical instrument that is most often translated as “cymbals” in English is translated in the following ways:

  • Laarim: “jingles” (source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Uma: “drum” (source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “tin” (source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “bamboo clapper” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “percussion-instrument” (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “rattling decoration” (source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Kupsabiny: “drum sticks” (source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Paicî: “cooking pot lid” (in 1 Cor. 13:1) (Source: Ian Flaws)
  • Natügu: “smacking things” and “banging things” (in Psalm 150:5) (source: Brenda Boerger in Open Theology 2016, p. 179ff. )

In the UBS Helps for TranslatorsHuman-made Things in the Bible (original title: The Works of Their Hands: Man-made Things in the Bible) it says the following:

Description: Cymbals were a percussion instrument consisting of two metal discs that were struck together in order to make a shrill, clashing sound. There were two types of cymbals: (1) flat metal plates that were struck together, and (2) metal cones, one of which was brought down on top of the other, on the open end.

Translation: The equivalent of “cymbal” in many languages is a phrase such as “loud metal.”

Cymbals (source: Susan Mitford (c) British and Foreign Bible Society 1986)

Quoted with permission.

See also clanging cymbal.

complete verse (Psalm 78:48)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 78:48:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “He gave their cows to hailstones,
    their flocks to lightnings.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “He killed their cows and bulls
    by causing hail to fall,
    and He killed their sheep and goats
    by causing thunderbolts to strike.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “He killed their animals/livestock by-means-of ice rain also and by lightning.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “He allowed hailstones to beat their cattle,
    and the lightening struck also their animals.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Aliua ngʼombe wao na mvua ya mawe,
    mifugo yao na radi.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “He sent hail that killed their cattle
    and sent lightning that killed their sheep and cows.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 79:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 79:8:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Do not punish us because of the sins of our parents
    let your mercy come quickly to meet us,
    for we have a great need.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Do not punish us for the sins of our ancestors.
    Have mercy on us.
    We have given up all hope.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Do- not -punish us (excl.) because of the sins of our (excl.) ancestors/[lit. old-ones].
    Instead, have-mercy on us (excl.) right-away/without-delay for we (excl.) can- not -do anything.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Do not punish us because of the sins of our fathers of long time ago
    have mercy on us now,
    for our hope disappears.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Usituhukumu kwa mabaya ya babu zetu,
    utuhurumie, uje haraka,
    tumeishiwa nguvu kabisa.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Do not punish us because of the sins that our ancestors committed!
    Be merciful to us now/quickly, because we are very discouraged.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 81:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 81:8:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Hear my people, and I will warn you
    if you can manage to listen, You Israel!” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O my people, listen!
    I will leave you a warning.
    O Israel, if only you would listen to me it would be enough!” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “My people who (are) Israelites, [you (plur.)] listen to this my warning to you (plur.).
    (I)-wish- you (plur.) -would listen to me!” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “My people, hear the matter that I instruct you,
    people of Israel, if you would only obey me!” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Enyi watu wangu, mnisikilize wakati nawaonya,
    enyi Wana israeli, ninataka mnisikilize.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You who are my people, listen while I warn you!
    I wish that you Israeli people would pay attention to what I say to you!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 83:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 83:16:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Cover their face with shame
    that they shall seek your name Jehovah.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O LORD, cover their faces with shame.
    then, may they search for Your name.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Put- them -to-shame, LORD, until they take-refuge in you (sing.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD, you cover their faces with shame
    so that they will look to you.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Uwaaibishe ili,
    waziheshimu nguvu zako, ee BWANA.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Cause them to be very ashamed
    in order that they will admit that you are very powerful.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 86:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 86:5:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “You Lord, you are forgiving and good,
    filled with love to all who call You.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “For You, O LORD, are one who is good and who forgives,
    and as many as ask You for help, to all of them You show compassion.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “(It is) true that you (sing.) (are) good and forgiving,
    and you (sing.) (are) full of love to all who call-(out) to you (sing.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD, you forgive sin, and you are good,
    you have great love to all people who pray to you.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee Bwana, uko mwema, tena uko na msamaha,
    uko na neema nyingi kwa watu wote ambao wanaabudu kwako.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Lord, you are good to us, and you forgive us;
    you faithfully love very much all those who pray/call out to you.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 88:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 88:13:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “You Jehovah, I cry for help;
    in the morning my prayers reach before you.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O LORD I beg You for help,
    and early in the morning I pray to You.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Therefore, LORD, I ask-for help from you (sing.).
    Every morning I pray to you (sing.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD, I call you so that you help me,
    I pray to you always in the morning.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Lakini mimi nakuita, ee BWANA,
    kila asubuhi naomba kwako.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “But as for me, Yahweh, I cry out to you to help me;
    each morning I pray to you.” (Source: Translation for Translators)