Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 2:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 2:4:

  • Chichewa Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero translation, 2002/2016:
    “The one sitting on high is laughing;
    The Lord is scorning them.” (Source: Chichewa Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “The one on the throne in heaven will laugh,
    The LORD will not even be concerned about them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “But the Lord who sits on his throne there in heaven just laughs and loathes/mocks them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “But God, who lives in the sky, he laughs at them and mocks them.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “And LORD who is sitting down on chair in heaven, mocks at them,
    and he is just playing with them.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ambaye anakaa mbinguni anacheka,
    Bwana anawadharau.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “But Yahweh, the one who sits on his throne in heaven, laughs at them;
    he ridicules those rulers.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 5:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 5:8:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Guide me You Jehovah, by your righteousness
    because of my enemies and
    straighten your path before me.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O LORD! Lead me into the good way.
    Make Your way straight before me.
    Otherwise my enemies will defeat me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “LORD, because my enemies (are) many,
    guide/lead me according-to your (sing.) righteousness,
    and make my following your (sing.) ways easy.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Oh God the straight good (righteous) God, there are many people who hate me (are my enemies). I request that you lead me to follow your straight good road.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD lead me in your goodness,
    because of my enemies.
    Let your way to be seen, so that I follow.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee BWANA, uniongoze katika unyofu wako,
    kwa maana maadui zangu wengi.
    Uinyooshe njia yako mbele yangu,” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, because you act righteously toward me,
    show me what is right for me to do.
    Because I have many enemies, show me clearly what you want me to do.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 8:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 8:1:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “You Jehovah our Lord,
    your name is indeed powerful in the whole earth!
    You have established your glory
    in all the heavenly worlds.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O LORD, my Lord.
    How great is Your name in the whole world.
    Your glory has reached the heavens.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “LORD our (excl.) Master, how great/praiseworthy you (sing.) (are) in the whole world!
    The praise to you (sing.) by the people you (sing.) can-hear (it) there in heaven.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Oh God who is our Lord! The good and great authority about your name spreads all over this earth. Voices singing praise to you rise arriving in the sky.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD, our Lord,
    Your name are glorify in all land!
    Your praise reaches heaven.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee BWANA, ee Bwana wetu,
    jina lako tukufu limeenea duniani poote!
    Utukufu wako umeenea mpaka mbinguni.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, our Lord, people all over the world know that you are very great!
    Your glory reaches up higher than the heavens!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 10:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 10:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “In his pride the wicked does not seek God;
    in all his thought there is no space for God.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “In their pride the wicked do not search for the LORD.
    In their thoughts there is no one called God.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Because of the boasting of those who (are) wicked, they do- not -take-refuge-in/plead-for-help-from you (sing.).
    They do- not at-all/[emphasis marker] -think about you (sing.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Wicked people, they raise up themselves and don’t want to listen to the words of God. And they say this: "God isn’t real at all."” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Because of his pride, a bad person does not want the Lord.
    In his all thinking, he does not think about God.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mtenda dhambi kwa kiburi chake hamtafuti Mungu,
    katika mawazo yake anasema, ‘Hakuna Mungu.’” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Wicked people are very proud.
    As a result, they do not seek help from/are not concerned about God;
    they do not even think that God exists.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 13:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 13:3:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Look at me and answer me, You Jehovah my God.
    Enlighten my eyes lest I die;” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Look at me, O LORD my God,
    and answer me.
    Give light to my eyes,
    Otherwise I will die.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Take-notice of me, LORD my God;
    answer my prayer.
    Restore/[lit. return] my strength so-that I will- not -die,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Oh God, my Lord! Request that you think about me and respond to me. Request that you help my gall bladder quickly. Request you don’t allow anyone to kill me.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD my God, see me and answer me.
    You give my power again, or I will die.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee BWANA Mungu wangu, nitazame, unijibu.
    Lete nuru katika macho yangu,
    nisije kulala usingizi wa kifo,” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh my God, look at me and answer me. Enable me to become strong again, and do not allow me to die.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 17:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 17:6:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I am calling You, my God, for you will answer me;
    pay attention to me and hear my prayer.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O God! I pray to you
    because You answer me.
    Look towards me and hear my prayer.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “O God, I am-praying to you (sing.)
    for I know that you (sing.) will-answer me.
    Listen to my prayer.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “I call on you oh God, because you respond to me. Request that you lean your ear to hear my prayer requesting from you.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “God, I am worshipping you,
    because you will answer me,
    hear my prayer.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee Mungu, naomba kwako,
    kwa sababu wewe utanijibu mimi.
    Tega masikio yako,
    wakati naomba kwako.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “O God, I pray to you because you answer me; please listen to what I am saying.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 18:23)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 18:23:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I have lived a blameless life before his eyes
    and I have lived and avoided sin.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “He knows that I am one who has no guilt
    and [that I] have been moving away from sin.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (sing.) know that my life (is) without blame
    and I have-avoided to-sin.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “The Lord already knows that no one can accuse me of anything. And I stay far away from bad works.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “He knows me that I have no sin,
    and that I kept myself from bad matters.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mbele yake sikuwa na hatia yoyote,
    nilikuwa naepuka dhambi.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “He knows that I have not done what is wrong;
    I have kept myself from sinning.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 19:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 19:5:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “The sun is like a bride coming from her tower,
    like a champion celebrating running a race.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Early in the morning he will come out rejoicing,
    like a man who has just been married.
    It comes out like a runner who rejoices to win a race.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “And from there the sun come-out in the morning
    like a happy groom going-out from the place where he got-married,
    or like a champion runner, who (is) ready to-run.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “The sun comes out in the morning like a bridegroom happily going to fetch his bride. He feels jubilant like a person running a race.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The sun comes out in morning like bridegroom from his home,
    like a strong person who rejoice when he runs.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Linatoka na furaha kama anaeoa mwanamke,
    ambaye anatoka katika chumba chake.
    Linafurahi kukimbia sana,
    kama vile mtu mwenye nguvu,
    ambaye anakimbia kuwazidi wenzake.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “it rises each morning like a bridegroom who is happy as he comes out of his bedroom after his wedding.
    It is like a strong athlete who is very eager to start running in a race.” (Source: Translation for Translators)