Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 47:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 47:3:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “He defeated for us many races of people;
    he placed people under our feet.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “He brings nations into subjection to us
    and puts peoples under the soles of our feet.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “He caused- the nations -to-be-subjected under us (excl.) Israelites.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “He gave us to rule nations
    and he puts them under our feet.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ametupa ushindi katika makabila mengine,
    amewaweka watu chini katika miguu yetu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “He enabled us to defeat the armies of the people-groups that lived in Canaan.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 49:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 49:12:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “No matter how rich a person is,
    he will die like an animal.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Because of their wealth, people lose their insight.
    And then they become like animals.
    he will die off like an animal.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Even-if a person/man (is) rich, he will- just -die like animals.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “But a person does not remain for long, even though he has wealth,
    he is like the animal of the bush that will die.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Lakini mtu hatakuwa na heshima na milele,
    atakufa tu kama vile wanyama.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Even if people are great, that cannot prevent them from dying;
    all people die, the same as animals do.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 51:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 51:1:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Do me mercy, You God,
    according to your unchanging love;
    according to your great mercy
    erase my iniquities.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O God have mercy on me!
    For You are the one who is always merciful.
    Wipe out my sin!
    For You are the one who loves without ceasing.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Have-mercy on me, O God, according-to your (sing.) love.
    Erase my sins according-to your (sing.) great concern for me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “God, you have mercy on me
    because of your everlasting love,
    because of your great goodness,
    forgive my sin.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee Mungu, unihurumie,
    kufuatana na neema yako.
    Uondoe dhambi zangu,
    kufuatana na wingi wa huruma yako.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “O God, be merciful to me,
    because you love me faithfully;
    because you are very merciful,
    erase the record of the ways that I disobeyed you!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 53:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 53:5:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “They were there run out of wisdom with great fear
    when there was nothing to be afraid of.
    God scattered the bones of the people who poured war on you;
    you shamed them, for God insulted them.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Cold fear will surround them
    as has never happened to them here before.
    For God will scatter hither and thither
    the bones of those who are surrounding and opposing His people.
    He will put them to shame,
    because He has abandoned them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “But they will-tremble in fear which they have- not yet -experienced before.
    God will-scatter their bones.
    They who attack you (plur.) Israelites you (plur.) will-put-to-shame
    because God has-rejected them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Fear rules them completely,
    even thought they do not find things which make them to fear.
    God will scatter the bones of your (plur.) enemies.
    You (plur.) will make them ashamed,
    because God rejected them.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Watashikwa na hofu kubwa,
    ambayo hawajawahi kuiona hata mara moja.
    Mungu ataitawanya mifupa ya maadui zenu,
    wataaibika kwa maana Mungu amewakataa.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “But some day those people will become terrified,
    like they have never been terrified before, because God will cause those who are separated from him to die,
    and he will disrespect them by scattering their bones.
    They have rejected God,
    so he will cause them to be defeated and completely disgraced.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 56:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 56:1:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Do me mercy You God, for people are chasing me a lot;
    the whole day they are pouring war against me.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O God, have mercy on me.
    My enemies are always pursuing me.
    They are trying to attack me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Have-mercy on me, O God,
    for my enemies are-attacking me.
    Their causing- me -to-suffer is-continuous/[lit. no-ending].” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “God, have mercy on me, because people are hunting for me.
    They chase me all day.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee Mungu unihurumie,
    kwa maana maadui wananiwinda,
    mchana kutwa wanapigana na mimi.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “God, be merciful to me because men have harassed me;
    all day my enemies pursue me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 58:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 58:9:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Before your pots catch fire of the bramble thorns,
    whether it is green or dry, the wicked will be removed.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Before a pot put on a fire of thorns to cook becomes hot
    He will blow the wicked away, whether they be green or dry.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Destroy them, young or old. Destroy them who (are) swifter than the heating of a clay-pot which is-set-ablaze with bush-branches.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “God will sweep all of them outside.
    quickly like pot which is boil in a big fire.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Vyungu vyenu wakati havijaungua katika moto wa miiba,
    watenda dhambi watafagiliwa mbali.
    vijana na wazee wote kwa pamoja.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Get rid of them
    as fast as thornbushes are blown away after they are cut (OR, as fast as a fire heats a pot over burning thorns).” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 61:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 61:1:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Hear my cry, You God;
    listen to my prayer.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O God! Hear my cry.
    Listen to my prayer.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Listen to my calling-(out), O God,
    listen to my prayer.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “God, hear my cry,
    listen to my prayer.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee Mungu, usikie kilio changu,
    usikilize sala yangu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “God, listen to me,
    and answer my prayer!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 64:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 64:2:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Hide me from the plot of the wicked people,
    to the noisy group of the people (who) do evil.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Hide me from the plots of the wicked
    and from the gang that keeps doing false work” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Protect me from the evil plans of that group of wicked ones.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Hide me from the plan of bad people
    and from the crowd of sinners.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Uniepushe kwa ambayo wanapanga sirini,
    kunitendea mimi vibaya,
    kwa kundi la watu waliopotoka.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Protect me from what wicked men are planning to do to me;
    protect me from that gang of men who do what is evil.” (Source: Translation for Translators)