Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 79:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 79:3:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “They have shed blood like water
    surrounding the whole Jerusalem,
    and there is no one who is to put in the grave the dead people.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “There has been profuse bleeding like water all over Jerusalem.
    No one has survived even to bury the dead.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “They caused- the blood of your (sing.) people -to-flow like water that flooded the whole-of Jerusalem,
    and no one was-left/remains to-bury the dead.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “They poured the blood of your people who were
    like water that surrounded all Jerusalem,
    and no one buries them.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Wamemwaga damu yao kama vile maji,
    katika mji wote wa katika Yerusalemu,
    hayupo ambaye amebaki wa kuwazika.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “When they killed your people,
    your people’s blood flowed like water through the streets of Jerusalem,
    and there was almost no one left to bury their corpses.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 81:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 81:3:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Sing a trumpet of a male sheep horn on a new moon,
    and when the moon has fully appeared, on the day of the feast;” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “At new moon and at full moon,
    blow the trumpet to celebrate our festivals.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “[You (plur.)] sound the trumpet/horn to celebrate the Feast of Beginning of the Moon and the feast that we (incl.) celebrate when the moon (is) full/[lit. round].” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You blow the horns of ram in a New Moon,
    and blow when the moon shine well on the day of our feast,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Pigeni baragumu, wakati mwezi umeandama,
    tena wakati mwezi umekomaa, siku ya sikukuu yetu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Blow the trumpets during the festival to celebrate each new moon
    and each time the moon is full and during our other festivals.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 83:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 83:11:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Do to their famous people what you did to Oreb and Zeeb
    do to the children of the kings what you did with Zebah and Zalmunna,” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Make them like Oreb and Zeeb, their courtiers.
    Make all of their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Destroy their leaders/[lit. heads] like what you (sing.) did to Oreb and to Zeeb, and to Zeba and to Zalmuna.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You give their leaders to die like Oreb and Zeeb,
    you let theirs officials to die like when you killed king Zebah and king Zalmunna,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Uwatendee viongozi wao,
    kama ambavyo uliwatendea wa Orebu na Zeebu,
    na viongozi wao wote, kama vile Zeba na Zalmuna,” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Do to them things like you did to Kings Oreb and Zeeb;
    defeat their leaders like you defeated Zebah and Zalmunna,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 85:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 85:13:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “The righteous goes in front of him
    and prepare paths for his feet.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “As for righteousness, it goes before the LORD,
    and prepares the way for Him.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Righteousness (is) like a messenger/[lit. one-who-tells-news] who will-go-before the arrival of the LORD and will-prepare his way.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The goodness goes before his face,
    and he prepares his way to be good.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Unyofu utatangulia mbele ya Mungu,
    unaandaa njia ya kupita yeye.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh always acts righteously;
    he acts righteously wherever he goes.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 88:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 88:8:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “You have removed me among my real friends
    and you have caused that I should be an abomination to them.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “You have put me far away from my friends,
    [You] have made me repulsive in their eyes.
    I have been imprisoned, I am unable to come out.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (sing.) caused- my friends -to-be-far from me.
    You (sing.) have-made me repulsive/detestable to them.
    I am-confined/trapped and can- not -escape/flee.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You gave my friends to reject me,
    and you gave them to hate me.
    I was surrounded and no way for me to run” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Umenitenga kwa rafiki zangu,
    umenifanya kuchukiwa nao,
    nimefungwa, siwezi kutoroka.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You have caused my friends to avoid/stay away from me;
    I have become repulsive to them.
    It is as though I am in a prison and cannot escape.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 89:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 89:22:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Enemies will not command him that he may give tax;
    wicked people will not afflict him.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “No enemy will get a chance to trick him.
    The wicked will not get to disgrace him.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “His enemies can- not -bully him;
    the wicked ones can- not -oppress him.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Not any enemy will defeat him,
    the bad person will not mistreat him.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Maadui hawatamshinda,
    waliopotoka hawatamtesa.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “His enemies will never find ways to defeat him, and wicked people will never defeat him.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 90:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 90:2:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Before the mountains were born,
    before you even created the earth and the whole world,
    from forever until forever You are God.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Before the mountains existed,
    since before You created the earth and the world,
    and from beginning to end, You are God.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Before you (sing.) created the mountains/hills and the earth, you (sing.) (were) God already,
    and you (sing.) (are) still God without end.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Before the creation of the mountains,
    or before you made the earth and all nations,
    in the beginning, you are God forever.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Wakati bado kuumba milima,
    na wakati bado kuumba nchi,
    wewe ni Mungu milele na milele.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Before you created the mountains, before you formed the earth and everything that is in it,
    you were eternally God,
    and you will be God forever.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 92:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 92:1:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “It is good to praise Jehovah
    and sing a song for your name, You the One in the Highest,” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O LORD God most high,
    it is good to give You thanks and to sing songs of praise to You.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “LORD Most High God, (it is) very good to-thank and to-sing praises to you (sing.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD, God Almighty,
    it is good to praise you,
    and we sing a song to your names,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee BWANA, ni kuzuri kushukuru kwako,
    na kukwimbia ya kulisifu jina lako,
    wewe ee Mungu Mkuu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, it is good for people to thank you and to sing to praise you who are greater than any other god.” (Source: Translation for Translators)