The Hebrew in Psalm 16:8 that is translated as “keep before me” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) with the idiom patsogolo panga which means “my guide.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
Language-specific Insights
your hair is like a flock of goats
The interconfessional Chichewa translation (publ. 1999) uses the ideophone pekupeku in Song of Songs 4:1 to describe the ripples and tumbles of the hair (“Your hair ripples and tumbles like a flock of goats”). Pekupeku is generally used for a swaying, bouncing, and flapping motion and here evokes the flowing and lively movement of hair down the slopes. (Source: Ernst Wendland)
Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)
no dealings
The phrase in John 4:9 that is translated in English translations as “for Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans” or similar is translated into Mono is translated as “It is taboo for you people to drink from our buckets.” (Source: Carl Gross)
In Telugu the more unspecific “have no dealings” rendering was used since even members of the same family do not use each other’s dishes. (Source: David Clark)
In Chitonga it is translated with the existing idiom “(Jews and Samaritans) do not step on each other’s toes” and in Chichewa (interconfessional translation) as “(do not) look one another in the eyes.” (Source: Wendland 1987, p. 130)
close friend
The Hebrew in Psalm 41:9 that is translated as “they gathered together against me” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) with bwezi la pamtima or “friend of the heart.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
See also close friends.
its flashes are flashes of fire
The interconfessional Chichewa translation (publ. 1999) uses the ideophone laŵilaŵi in Song of Songs 8:6 to describe the notion of a sparkling, fiercely flickering, and flaring light. (Source: Ernst Wendland)
Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)
Rahab (Psalm 89:10 et al.)
The Hebrew that is translated in English as “Rahab” is translated in the interconfessional Chichewa translation (publ. 1999) as chilombo cha m’nyanja or “beast of the sea.” (Source: Wendland 1998, p. 96)
bonds
The Hebrew in Psalm 2:3 that is translated as “bonds” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) as magoli or “yokes.” This word is used to refer to two instruments. The first one was used to tie slaves around their necks. It was a beam made out of wood, leather, and sometimes chains placed on the shoulders of the enslaved people. Once slaves were tied to it they could not run away as they were being transported from one place to another. Sometimes it is used to refer to a wooden piece that is used to join two oxen together for plowing or transporting of goods in agricultural and other contexts. When two oxen are tied to the yoke, their movement is controlled by the one who is operating the plow or oxcart. In Chichewa culture, a yoke is a symbol of subjugation, exploitation, and powerlessness. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
high(est) heaven
The Hebrew that is translated as “high(est) heaven” (or “heaven of heaven) or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) with kumwambamwamba or “top of heaven.” “This is a Chichewa way of saying very far in the sky.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)