Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 35:26)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 35:26:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “All those who rejoice in my sufferings
    let them be ashamed and confused.
    All those who exalt themselves wanting to triumph over me,
    let them be clothed with shame and scorn like clothes.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “May those who keep jeering when I am in trouble lose all hope,
    May all those who think they are greater than I am
    go down to defeat in shame.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “May-it-be that those who rejoice-over my sufferings will-be-put-to-shame and confused.
    May-it-be that all who put- me -down/[lit. cause- me -to-be-low] will-be-dismayed and be-put-to-shame.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “All those who feel glad at my troubles, request you allow them to be ashamed and for them to meet up with hardship. And request you allow those who exalt themselves, request you cause them to go back and be scattered.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Would you let people who laugh at my sadness
    find shame and they be confuse,
    would you let people who lifted up themselves over me
    to catch shame.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Uwache washindwe na kuaibika,
    ambao wanafurahia wakati nateseka mimi.
    Wote ambao wanajivuna kunipita mimi,
    iwashike aibu, waibike.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Cause those who rejoice about my misfortunes to be completely defeated and disgraced;
    cause those who boast that they are much greater than me
    to be disgraced and dishonored!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 37:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 37:18:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “The days of innocent people are known by Jehovah,
    and their inheritance will remain until forever.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Day by day the LORD has been caring for the good people,
    they will get to live forever in the inheritance
    the LORD has given [them].” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “The LORD (is) concerned for the needs of the people whose lives (are) without blame.
    And their inheritance will-be theirs forever/[lit. until wherever].” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “God pays attention to the needs of those who trust him. The land he promised to them becomes their possession forever.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The days of innocent people are known to the LORD
    and they will inherit land forever.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “BWANA anawalinda wasio na hatia yoyote,
    urithi wao ni wa milele na milele.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Every day Yahweh cares about those who have not done any evil things;
    the things that Yahweh gives them will last forever.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 38:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 38:10:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “My heart is beating, my strength is ending;
    even light has gone out of my eyes.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “My heart is beating wildly,
    my strength has disappeared,
    my eyes have also become weak.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “My chest/breast pounds/thumps; I have- no -strength now,
    and my sight (is) blurry.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “My heart shakes and my strength is all gone. And light has already gone out of my eyes.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “My heart is beating, and strength disappears from me,
    even the light of my eyes are lost.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Moyo wangu unadunda,
    nguvu zangu zimeisha,
    nayo macho yangu hayatazami vizuri.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “My heat is pounding heavily, and all my strength is gone.
    I am no longer able to see well.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 40:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 40:7:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “So I said, ‘I am here, I have come.
    In the book it is written about me.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “So I answered, ‘I have come,
    as it is written about me in the law.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “So I said,
    ‘Here I (am), I (am) ready to-obey your (sing.) commands for me which were-written in the Law.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “So, I replied like this: "I have come here already. Whatever you instruct me, surely those things are already in the book that spoke about your law a long time ago.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Then I say that, ‘I am here, I come,
    as it is written in your book, about me.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Basi nikasema, ‘Tazama mimi nimekuja.
    Ambayo natakiwa kufanya, yameandikwa katika Kitabu kitakatifu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “So I said to you, ‘Yahweh, here I am,
    to do the things that have been written in the scroll that contains your laws,
    things that you want me to do.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 42:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 42:9:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I am saying that to God my Rock,
    ‘Why have you forgotten me?
    Why should I walk while crying,
    oppressed by an enemy?’” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “I say to God my rock,,
    ‘Why have you forgotten me?
    Why should I have to keep on morning
    because my enemies oppress me?"” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “O God my protecting/place-to-hide/place-of-refuge rock/stone, I am-saying to you (sing.),
    ‘Why have- you (sing.) -forgotten me?
    Why must I mourn because of the oppression of me by the enemies?’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “I ask from God, the one who protects me like this: "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I suffer adversity from people who hate me?"” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “I say to my God who is my mountain who keeps me,
    ‘Why have you forgotten me?
    why do I cry,
    because my enemies disturbed me?” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Namwambia Mungu, ambaye ni mwamba wangu,
    nasema, ‘Kwa nini umenisahau?
    Kwa nini nihuzunike na kuonewa na maadui?’” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “I say to God, who is like an overhanging rock under which I can hide,
    ‘It seems that you have forgotten me.
    I <mourn/ cry> constantly because my enemies act cruelly toward me’.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 44:25)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 44:25:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “We have been brought down up to the dust;
    Our bodies are stuck to the soil.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “We have become all messed up in the dust.
    Our bodies are stuck in the mud.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “We (excl.) have-fallen to/on the ground and can- not -rise-up anymore.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “It is like we have fallen to the ground, and others step on us like dust.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “We are push down to the ground
    and our faces stay on the dust.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Tumeangukia chini penye udongo,
    miili yetu inalala penye vumbi.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “We are pushed down to the ground and we cannot get up.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

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)