Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 45:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 45:15:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “They are accompanying them with joy and happiness;
    they are entering the kingship house.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “They will enter the king’s palace with rejoicing.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (plur.) (are) very happy when you (plur.) enter/go-inside the palace of the king.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “When all of them enter into the house of the king, they feel exceedingly happy.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “They come with happiness and with joy,
    they entered to the place of king.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Watakuja na furaha kubwa,
    wanaingia ikulu.
    Baraka katika arusi” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “They will be very joyful as they are led along
    to enter your palace.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 48:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 48:10:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Like your name, You God,
    your praises reach to the ends of the earth
    your right hand is full of justice.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “You are praised everywhere.
    Your name has reached
    the ends of the earth.
    You make judgments that are true, correct.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (sing.) (are) famous and are-praised by the people in the whole world/earth,
    because you (sing.) (are) victorious by-means-of your (sing.) power.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “God, with your names,
    your praise reached edge of the world,
    your right hand is full of goodness,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Jina lako linasifiwa kila mahali,
    sifa zako zimetawanyika duniani poote,
    kwa sababu unatawala kwa unyofu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You are famous and are praised/people praise you all over the earth,
    because you rule powerfully and justly.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 50:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 50:8:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I do not rebuke you because of your sacrifices,
    or your burnt offerings that are in front of me all the times.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “In respect to the sacrifices and burnt offerings
    that you bring to my place
    I will not rebuke you.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “I do-not rebuke you (plur.) for your (plur.) sacrifices/offerings,
    or for your (plur.) burnt offerings which you (plur.) always offer.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “I am not rebuke you because of the animals of your sacrifice,
    or because of your gift which are roasted
    which are always before my face.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Sikukemei kwa sababu ya dhabihu zako,
    dhabihu za kuteketezwa unaniletea daima.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “I am not rebuking you for making sacrifices to me,
    for the offerings that you completely burn on the altar.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 51:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 51:17:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
    a broken and sad heart
    You God you will not despise.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “For God the appropriate sacrifice is a weeping heart.
    A heart that weeps and feels repentance, O God,
    You do not dislike.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “The sacrifice/offering which can-make- you (sing.) -pleased/glad, O God, is the life who humbles-(himself) and repents of his/her sins.
    This kind of sacrifice/offering you (sing.) do- not -reject.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The thing of sacrifice that God needs, it be spirit which be grieved,
    and the heart which be grieved about my sin,
    God, you will not refuse them.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee Mungu, sadaka yangu kwako,
    ni moyo wangu wa unyenyekevu.
    Ee Mungu, huukatai moyo ambao umegeuka.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “The sacrifice that you really want is for people to be truly humble and sorry for having sinned;
    O God, you will not refuse that kind of sacrifice.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 55:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 55:8:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I would have run to my place of security;
    far from the raging and stormy wind.’” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Having escaped from the whirlwind, the wind and the rain
    I would live in my own shelter.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “I will-hurry to-look-for/search-for my hiding-place.
    in-order to-hide from the anger of my enemies who (were) like a strong wind or storm.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “I would find a place to stay quickly,
    I be far from a strong wind’” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ingekuwa ningeharakisha sana kutafuta mahali,
    kuepuka upepo mkali na tufani.’” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “I would quickly find a shelter from my enemies
    who are like a strong wind and rainstorm.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 57:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 57:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I am in the midst of lions,
    I have slept in the midst of ruthless beasts;
    people whom their teeth and their lips are arrows,
    their tongues are sharp swords.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “I have been living amidst enemies
    who are like man-eating lions.
    Their teeth are like spears and arrows.
    Their tongues are as sharp as swords.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “I am-surrounded by enemies who (are) like lions who (are) ready to devour men.
    Their teeth are spears and arrows.
    Their tongues are sharp swords.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The enemies who are like lions,
    and they stay like animals who are wild that are hungry,
    Their teeth are like spears and arrows
    and their tongues stays like sharp swords.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mimi nimezungukwa na maadui,
    ambao wako kama simba ambao wanakula watu.
    Meno yao yako kama vile mikuki na mishale,
    ndimi zao ziko kama mapanga makali sana.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Sometimes I am surrounded by my enemies who are like lions that kill humans;
    they are like lions that chew with their teeth animals that they kill;
    but my enemies have spears and arrows, not teeth;
    and the false things that they say hurt people as much as sharp swords hurt people.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 59:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 59:14:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “They also come in evening,
    while making noise like dogs
    and wander around the city.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “My enemies will come back in the evening.
    and crying out like dogs they will walk all around the city.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “My enemies return at night growling/snarling like dogs while going-around the city.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “They come back in evening
    crying like dogs
    as they walk in the town.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Maadui zangu wanarudi kila jioni,
    wanabweka kama mbwa na kuzunguka katika mji.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “My enemies return each evening, snarling like vicious dogs as they prowl around this city.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 62:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 62:9:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Ordinary people are just air;
    people of high (status) are just a lie;
    if they are measured on a scale they are nothing;
    they together with air are nothing” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Small people are only a breath.
    Great people are not what they appear to be
    from the outside.
    But if you weigh them they seem light,
    They are lighter than two puffs of wind.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “The people, honorable-(possessional) or low, can- not -be-trusted.
    They both (are) just has-no value; they (are) lighter than wind.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “People who are not important, they are just people like breath,
    and people who be important, they are like a lie.
    If we think about them,
    they are all just people to be nothing, to be like a breath.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Kwere:
    “All people are like a mere breath,
    everyone, old and young, they are of little value.
    When they are weighed, all of them together are lighter than a breath.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Watu ni kama pumzi,
    wote wa bure.
    Iwapo unawapima hawana na uzito wowote,
    wote kwa pamoja wepesi kuzidi pumzi.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “People who are considered to be unimportant are as worthless/unreliable as a breath of air;
    people who are considered to be important also really amount to nothing/cannot be trusted to help us.
    If you put them all on a scale, it would be as if
    they weighed less than a puff of air.” (Source: Translation for Translators)