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 119:157)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 119:157:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “The enemies who are persecuting me are many,
    but I did not turn departing from your testimony.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “There are many enemies who give me trouble,
    yet I have not stopped obeying Your decrees.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Many enemies pursue/persecute me,
    but I have- not ever -turned-away from your (sing.) teachings.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “There many enemies who disturbed me,
    but instead, I have not rejected your ways.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Niko na maadui wengi ambao wananisumbua,
    lakini mimi sikiuki shuhuda zako.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Many people are my enemies and many people cause me to suffer/persecute me,
    but I do not turn aside from/have not stopped obeying your requirements/what you have instructed us to do.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 121:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 121:6:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “The sun will not harm you in the noon time,
    or the moon at night.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Neither will the sunlight harm you during the day,
    nor will the moonlight at night.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “The heat of the sun can- not -harm you (sing.) or the light/brightness of the moon at night.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “the sun will not mistreat you (sing.) by day,
    nor the moon treat you badly by night.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Jua halitakuja kukuumiza mchana,
    au mwezi usiku.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “He will not allow the sun to harm us during the day,
    and he will not allow the moon to harm us during the night.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 126:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 126:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Return us our blessings, You Jehovah,
    like the rivers of Negev.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O LORD, like the rivers of the Negev flowing on dry ground,
    make our circumstances good again..” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Again, LORD, restore our (excl.) good situation
    like dry rivers that are-filled-with-water/[lit. are-watered] again.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD, you return back our wealth,
    like rivers of Negev desert.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee BWANA, uturudishe katika nchi yetu sisi ambao watumwa,
    kama vile mvua ambayo inaleta maji katika mabonde ambayo yamekauka.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, when it rains, water flows in the streams again after they were dry.
    Similarly, enable our nation to become great again like it was before.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 131:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 131:3:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Hope for Jehovah, you Israel,
    beginning now until forever.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O Israel, from now on and forever more,
    put your hope in the LORD.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Ones from-Israel, [you (plur.)] trust in the LORD now and forever/[lit. until whenever].” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You people of Israel, put your hope
    in the LORD,
    now and forever.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee Israeli, umtumaini BWANA,
    kuanzia sasa hata milele hata milele.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You my fellow Israelis, confidently expect that Yahweh will do good things for you, now and forever!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 135:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 135:8:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “He struck the first born children of Egypt,
    first born children of people and animals.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “He killed the first born of the animals
    and the first-born sons of the people in Egypt” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “He killed the first-born male of the ones from-Egipto and as-well-as the first-born of their animals.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The Lord killed the firstborn in Egypt,
    the sons of people and of the animals.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Aliwapiga na kuwaua watoto wa kwanza wa katika Misri,
    wa watu na wanyama.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “He is the one who killed all the firstborn males in Egypt,
    the firstborn of people and of animals.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 136:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 136:19:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Silon the king of the Amorites,
    for his unchanging love is eternal.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “He destroyed Sihon king of the Amorites,
    His love endures forever.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “He killed Sihon, the king of the Amornon.
    His love (is) without end.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “he killed Sihon a king of the people of Amor,
    his love remains forever,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Akamuua Sihoni, mfalme wa Waamori,
    neema yake ni ya milele na milele,” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “He killed Sihon, the king of the Amor people-group;
    his faithful love for us endures forever.” (Source: Translation for Translators)