Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 121:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 121:5:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Jehovah is the one who keeps you;
    Jehovah is your shade at your right hand.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “The Lord is the one who saves you.
    The Lord is the one who protects you on your right hand.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “The LORD takes-care-of/preserves you (sing.);
    he (is) on your (sing.) side to protect you (sing.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The LORD watches you,
    the LORD is your shade at your right hand,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “BWANA ni mlinzi wako,
    BWANA kivuli katika mkono wako wa kulia.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh watches over us;
    he is like the shade that protects us from the sun.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 126:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 126:3:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Jehovah has done us great things,
    and we are filled with joy.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Indeed, the Lord has done great things for us.
    Much joy has come to us.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “(It is) true that the LORD has-done mighty things for us (incl.),
    and our (incl.) joy is very great/[double emphasis marker].” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The LORD did to us good matters,
    and we were happy.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “BWANA ni ukweli ametutendea matendo makuu,
    tulifurahi sana.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “And we say, ‘Yes, Yahweh truly has done great things for us,
    and we are very happy.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 131:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 131:2:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “But my life I have calmed it down
    and make it silent like a child whose mother has stopped breastfeeding,
    my life inside me is like a child who has been stopped breastfeeding.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Actually, I have kept my mind calm and quiet.
    [I am] like a child that has been weaned,
    like child who has been weaned
    sitting quietly in its mother’s lap,
    my mind has remained quiet.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “But-rather I (am) content like a weaned child who no-longer desires to suck from his/her mother.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “But instead, I gave my heart to be comforted,
    like infant who stays with his mother who stopped nursing,
    my heart stays well like a child who stays with his mother.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Bavarian by Sturmibund (publ. 1998):
    “I will now rest in myself,
    just as a child trusts in their mother: ‘You will handle it just right!'”(Source: Zetzsche)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Lakini nafsi yangu imetulia, ina na amani,
    kama vile mtoto ambaye amekua,
    ameacha kunyonya maziwa kwa mama yake,
    ndivyo ilivyo nafsi yangu, imetulia.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Instead, I am calm and peaceful,
    like a small child who lies quietly in its mother’s arms.
    In the same way, I am peaceful.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 135:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 135:7:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “He brings out clouds from the ends of the earth,
    he sends lightnings together with rain
    and he brings out the wind from its place of storage.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “He makes the clouds rise from the corners of the earth,
    He brings lightning with the rain,
    and brings out wind from his treasury.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “He carries/takes the clouds to-rise-up from the far-away parts of the earth,
    and he sends bolts-of-lightning together-with rain.
    He brings-out the wind from their hiding-places.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “He makes the clouds to raise up above all the land,
    he sends rain and lightening,
    and he gives the wind to get out of his storehouses.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ndiye ambaye analeta mawingu,
    kutoka mwisho wa dunia,
    anaituma radi pamoja na mvua,
    analeta upepo kutoka katika makao yake.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “He is the one who causes clouds to appear from very distant places on the earth;
    he sends lightning with the rain,
    and he brings the winds from the places where he stores them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 136:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 136:18:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “And killed powerful kings,
    for his unchanging love is eternal.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “He also killed powerful kings,
    His love endures forever.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “He killed the famous kings.
    His love (is) without end.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “he killed strong kings,
    his love remains forever,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Akawaua wafalme mashuhuri,
    neema yake ni ya milele na milele.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “He killed kings who were famous;
    his faithful love for us endures forever.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 139:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 139:7:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Where can I go wanting to free from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee to go away from your sight?” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Where will I be able to hide from Your eyes?
    Where can I go to escape from Your presence?” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Where can- I -flee from your (sing.) Spirit?
    Where can- I -go that you (sing.) are-not-there?” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Where would I run to go from your Spirit?
    Where would I run from your presence?” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Niende wapi kuwa nikuepuke wewe?
    Nikimbilie wapi ambako wewe hauko?” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Where could I go to escape from your Spirit?/ I could not go anywhere to escape from your Spirit.
    Where could I go to get away from you?/I could not go anywhere to get away from you.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 141:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 141:2:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Let my prayer arrive to You like incense;
    let my raising of hands be like the evening sacrifice.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “May my prayer be like fragrant incense before You,
    and when I lift my hands
    may it be like an evening sacrifice for You.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Receive my prayer as incense.
    Receive the lifting-up of my hands in prayer as an afternoon sacrifice/offering.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Would you let my prayer stay before you,
    to stay like incense,
    would you let my hands which I lift up,
    to be like the sacrifice of evening.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Upokee sala yangu,
    iwe kama vile ubani mbele yako.
    Mikono yangu ambayo nimeinua,
    iwe kama vile sadaka ya jioni.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Accept my prayer as though it were incense being burned as an offering to you.
    And accept me while I lift up my hands to pray to you
    like you accept sacrifices that I offer to you each evening.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 144:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 144:5:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Tear the heavenly worlds, You Jehovah, and come down;
    touch the mountains that they bring out smoke.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O LORD, open the heavens and come down.
    Touch the mountains
    so that smoke may come out from them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “LORD, open the heaven and [you (sing.)] come-down.
    Touch the mountains/hills so-that they smoke.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD, you leave heaven, and come down,
    touch mountains so that they be smoking.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee BWANA, upasue mbingu kwako, ushuke chini.
    Uiguse milima, nayo itoe moshi.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, tear open/open up the sky and come down!
    Touch the mountains in order that smoke will pour out from them!” (Source: Translation for Translators)