Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 13:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 13:6:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I will sing for Jehovah
    for he has done pleasant (things) for me.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “I will sing a song about the LORD
    because the LORD has cared for me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “I will-sing to you (sing.), LORD, because from time-past you (sing.) (have been) good to me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Oh God! I sing praise to you, because you give me complete good only.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “I will sing to the LORD the song,
    because he was good to me.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Nitakuwa namwimbia BWANA,
    kwa sababu amefanya mema kwangu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, you have done many good things for me,
    so I will sing to you.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 17:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 17:9:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “from the wicked who surround me,
    from the people who are my enemies, who have surrounded me.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Protect me from wicked people and from dreadful enemies all around me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Protect me from my enemies who attack my surrounding-(area) in-order to-kill me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “to avoid bad people wanting to kill and create problems for me. They surround me.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You (sing.) protect me from people are fighting with me,
    from enemies who come to hunt for me.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “niwe mbali na watu wabaya ambao wananiwinda,
    maadui wauaji ambao wamenizunguka.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Do not allow wicked people to attack me;
    my enemies surround me, wanting to kill me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 18:26)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 18:26:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “to the pure in heart, You also show your purity,
    but to the fraudsters you also show your disgust.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “To people who have pure hearts
    You show mercy,
    and You become the opponent of those who do not obey God’s commands.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (sing.) (are) sincere to the ones (who are) sincere to you (sing.),
    and you (sing.) (are) good at tricking the wicked ones.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “You do straight good to him that has a clean good gall bladder, but you are very wise to know all the works that bad people do.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You are holy with people who are holy,
    but instead you become wise with bad people.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kwa watu weupe uko mweupe,
    lakini kwa watu wajanja uko mkali.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You are kind to those who are kind to others, but you act wisely toward those who act perversely/do bad things.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 19:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 19:8:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “The instructions of Jehovah are just,
    they give joy to the heart.
    The laws of Jehovah are radiant,
    they give light.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “The precepts of the LORD are true,
    they make the heart glad.
    The instructions of the LORD are right,
    they give light to the eyes.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “The rules/ones-which-are-to-be-followed/decrees of the LORD (are) right and give happiness.
    The commands of the LORD (are) clear and enlighten/[lit. give-light-to] the mind/thinking of a person/man.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “The law of God is very straight. That law is able to make the heart of those who obey feel exceedingly happy. Instruction from God is very clear. That instruction allows the countenance of people to become bright.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The teaching of LORD is right much,
    its makes the heart to rejoice.
    The commands of LORD are holy,
    they make us to see well.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Torati ya Bwana nzuri,
    inaufurahisha moyo.
    Sheria za Bwana nyofu,
    zinamfundisha mtu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh’s laws are fair/just;
    when we obey them, we become joyful.
    The commands of Yahweh are clear, and by reading them we start to understand how God wants us to behave.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 22:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 22:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “On you our parents relied;
    they relied on you and You saved them.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “My ancestors trusted in You.
    and You saved them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Our (excl.) elderly-ones trusted you (sing.) and you (sing.) saved them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “From a long time ago our ancestors depended on and believed you. So you have saved (lit. helped to live) them.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Our ancestors put their hearts in you
    and you saved them.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Babu zetu walikuwa wanakutumaini,
    walikutumaini wewe, uliwaokoa.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Our ancestors trusted in you.
    Because they trusted in you, you rescued them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 23:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 23:5:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “You prepare food for me
    while my enemies are seeing.
    You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Chichewa interconfessional translation, 1999:
    You prepare food for me, as my enemies look on.
    You welcome me well by anointing my head with oil,
    you fill my cup to overflowing.” (Source: Wendland 1998, p. 148f.)
  • Chichewa poetic translation in the traditional ndakatulo genre to encourage oral and musical performances:
    “Talk about food, ha! I’m a what-can-the-child-cry-for.
    You’ve prepared me a feast, my enemies can just STARE! [tong’oo! — an ideophone, i.e. a literary device that expresses what is perceived by the five senses]
    My cup of blessings is full-up BRIM-BRIM-BRIMMING! [ideophone nde-nde-nde!]
    At your home you’ve welcomed me with two hands.” (Source: Ernst Wendland)
  • Kupsabiny:
    “You prepared for me a banquet,
    in the presence of my enemies.
    You anointed me with oil of honour
    and filled my cup until it over flowed.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Adilabad Gondi:
    “While my enemies are watching, you served a feast to me.
    Having applied oil on my head, you provide hospitality to me.
    You fill into my bowl/cup more than I need.” (Source: Adilabad Gondi Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “You will prepare a feast for me, in the presence of my enemies
    You have anointed my head with oil,
    My cup overflows.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (sing.) prepare me a feast while my enemies are-staring.
    You (sing.) poured oil on my head to honor me.
    And you (sing.) satisfied me with drinks.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “God has prepared a feast (lit. very big meal) for me before the eyes of people who hate me in order for them to see. And God welcomes me like a guest who has great authority coming to visit. Good things, blessings, he gives me like liquid that overflows (lit. liquid full greater than level).” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You had prepare for me big feast
    in middle of my enemies.
    You smear my head with the oil of blessing,
    and you allowed my cup filled up until it overflow.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Unaniandalia chakula,
    mbele ya maadui zangu.
    Unanipaka mafuta kichwani pangu,
    kikombe changu kinarefuka.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You prepare a great feast for me, in a place where my enemies can see me.
    You joyfully receive me, as people joyfully receive the guests they have invited
    by pouring olive oil over their heads.
    You have given me very many blessings!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 25:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 25:21:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Let my faithfulness and righteousness protect me,
    for my hope is in You.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “May my honesty and goodness save me.
    For I have put my hope in You.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “My life (is) righteous and without blame,
    therefore protect me.
    For I trust in you (sing.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Because I am a good and righteous person, I request you protect me, because I believe in you.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “May you let goodness and matter which is true to protect me,
    because I put my hope on you.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Unyofu na ukweli vinilinde,
    kwa sababu nakutumaini wewe.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Protect me because I do what is good and honest/just,
    and because I trust in you.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 28:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 28:5:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “For they are not concerned with the works of Jehovah,
    and what his hands did,
    He will tear them apart
    and will no longer help them.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “[As for] what all the LORD has done,
    as for what all He has made with His hands
    they have no concern for that.
    So He will destroy them forever,
    and they will never be seen again.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “For they count-as-no-value/do-not-pay-attention-to what you (sing.) do.
    Therefore you (sing.) will-destroy them and leave (them) in that situation.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “They don’t look at the works God has already done, or the things which he has created. Because of that, he repays them for what they have done, and doesn’t allow them to stand up anymore.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “As they don’t care for the works of LORD
    and the works which he did by his hands,
    he will throw them down
    and he will not raise them again.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Hawayajali matendo ya Bwana,
    au ambayo anafanya,
    basi atawangamiza bila kuwajenga tena.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, they do not pay attention to the wonderful things that you have done and that you have created;
    so get rid of them permanently and do not let them appear again!” (Source: Translation for Translators)