Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 72:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 72:6:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “He will be the falling of the rains on cultivated fields
    like continuous rains that water the earth.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “May the king’s reign be like rain coming to a dry field,
    May the reign of the king be like torrents of rain
    coming and drenching the earth.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “May-it-be that he be like rain that gives water to the ground/land.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The king will stay like the rain that grow grass which has been cut,
    and the rain that fall on the ground.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mfalme wetu awe kama vile mvua,
    ambayo inanyesha katika majani ya majani,
    ambayo inatoa manyunyu kuilowanisha nchi.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “I desire that my rule will be enjoyed by the people
    like they enjoy rain on growing crops, like they enjoy showers that fall on the land.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 73:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 73:18:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Truly you put them on a slippery place;
    You drop them down that they are destroyed.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Just now You have put them in a slippery place,
    and You will drop them into the valley of destruction.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “(It is) really true that you (sing.) place/set them in a situation that (is) not sure/certain,
    and you (sing.) will-destroy them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “God, you put them in slippery ways
    and you make them to fall down to die.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kweli ni wewe utakuja kuwaweka katika utelezi,
    watakuja kuangushwa chini, watakuja kuangamizwa.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Now I know that you will surely put them in slippery places,
    and they will fall down and die.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 74:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 74:22:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Awake You God and defend yourself on the case;
    remember how the foolish are insulting you all day.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Rise up O God,
    having taken up Your matter, speak out.
    Remember once,
    fools have been ridiculing You every day.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Alright/go-on now, O God, defend yourself/[lit. your (sing.) own self].
    Remember how the foolish-ones always put- you (sing.) -to-shame.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “God, wake up, and defend yourself.
    Remember that people who are foolish are laughing at you all day.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee Mungu, simama ujipiganie mwenyewe,
    ukumbuke jinsi unavyotukanwa na wapumbavu mchana wote.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “God, arise and defend yourself by defending your people!
    Do not forget that foolish people laugh at you all day long/continually!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 77:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 77:9:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Has God forgotten being kind-hearted?
    In his anger has he stopped his mercy?’” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Has God forgotten to be merciful?
    Having become angry, has He discontinued His mercy?
    Interlude” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Has- he now -forgotten to-be-merciful?
    Does- he -have-no mercy because of his anger?’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Why does God forget to be merciful to his people?
    Why does he refuse his mercy in his anger?’” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Je, Mungu amesahau huruma yake?
    Je, hasira zake zimeondoa wema wake?’” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “God promised to be merciful to us; has he forgotten that?
    Because he is angry with us, has he decided to not be kind to us?’
    (Think about that!)” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 78:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 78:21:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “When Jehovah heard them he became very angry?
    his fire burned against Jacob,
    and his anger rose against Israel,” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Hearing this the LORD became angry,
    and seeing the descendants of Jacob, fire broke out.
    Seeing them His anger became more intense.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “So God got-angry when he heard them.
    In his anger with them who (were) Israelites, who (were) the descendants of Jacob, he attacked them with fire.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “When the LORD heard them, he became very angry,
    his fire came to burn the people of Jacob,
    his anger arose against the people of Israel,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “BWANA wakati amesikia, akachukia sana,
    moto ukawawakia wa jamaa ya Yakobo.
    Hasira zake zikawainukia waisraeli.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “So, when Yahweh heard that, he became very angry,
    and he sent a fire to burn up some of his Israeli people.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 78:53)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 78:53:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “He led them properly so that they had no fear
    but the lake sank their enemies.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Taking good care of them, He brought them along,
    So they went without fear.
    Their enemies were just swallowed by the sea.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “He guided them, therefore they were- not -afraid.
    But their enemies were-drowned in the sea.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “He showed them way well, so that they will not afraid,
    but instead, the sea swallowed their enemies.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Akawaongoza vizuri, hawakuwa na hofu,
    lakini bahari ikawafunika maadui zao.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “He led them safely, and they were not afraid, but their enemies were drowned in the sea.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 79:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 79:13:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Then we your people, the sheep of your grazing-land,
    we will praise you forever,
    from generation to generation
    we will explain about your praises.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Then your people, the sheep of your flock
    we will give you thanks for ever and ever,
    generation after generation will praise you.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “And we (excl.) your (sing.) people, whom you (sing.) watch-over like sheep, will-thank you (sing.) without end.
    We (excl.) will- always -praise you (sing.) forever/[lit. until forever].” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “And we your people, we are like sheep, and you are our shepherd,
    we will praise you forever,
    from the children of children who are yet to be born,
    we will remember to praise you.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ndipo sisi watu wako,
    ambao ni kondoo wa malisho yako,
    tutakutolea shukrani milele na milele,
    tutatangaza matendo yako siku zote.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “After you do that, we, whom you take care of like a shepherd takes care of his sheep, will continue praising you;
    we will continue to praise you forever.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 81:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 81:13:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “‘If my people only obeyed me,
    If Israel followed my paths,” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “If my people would listen to my words,
    If Israel would live like I say.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “If only you (plur.) would-have listened and followed my ways,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “If my people would listen to me,
    if the people of Israel would follow my ways,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kama watu wangu wangenisikia,
    kama waisraeli wangefuata njia yangu,” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “I wish that my people would listen to me, that the Israeli people would behave as I want them to do.” (Source: Translation for Translators)