Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 48:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 48:14:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “For this God is our God to the endless times;
    He will be our leader up to the end.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “For God is our God forever.
    He will guide us forever.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “that the God that we (incl.) serve now is our (incl.) God without end/[lit. forever].
    He is-the-one-who will-guide/lead us (incl.) forever/[until whenever].” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “For this God is our God forever,
    he will be our Instructor until the end of the world.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kwa maana ndivyo alivyo Mungu, Mungu wetu.
    Milele na milele ndiye anatuongoza.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Say to them, ‘This is the city that belongs to our God, the one who lives forever;
    he will guide us all of our lives.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 50:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 50:12:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “If I was hungry wouldn’t I have told you,
    for the whole earth and everything that is in it is mine.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Even if I were to become hungry,
    I would not tell you.
    The world and all that is in it is mine.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “If I will-be-hungry I would- not -ask-for food from you (plur.),
    because the world (is) mine and all that (is) in it.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “If I was hungry, I would never tell you,
    because the land all the things which are in it are mine,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Iwapo ningekuwa nakuwa na njaa, nisingekwambia wewe,
    kwa maana nchi na ambavyo vimo vyote vyangu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “So, if I were hungry, I would not tell you to bring me some food,
    because everything in the world belongs to me!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 52:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 52:2:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “All day you think about destroying others;
    your tongue is like a sharp razor,
    your job is to deceive.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “All day long your tongue is as sharp as a dagger.
    You are very full of lying talk.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (plur.) plan to-destroy others.
    Your (plur.) tongue (is) like a sharp razor.
    Cheating/deceiving is what you (plur.) do.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Your tongue is not good it plan matter of destruction,
    it is like a sharp razor,
    you who are talking lies.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ulimi wako unapanga ya uharibifu,
    uko kama wembe mkali, ewe mdanganyifu wewe.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “All during the day you plan to get rid of others; what you say injures others like a sharp razor,
    and you are always deceiving others.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 55:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 55:12:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “If it was an enemy mocking me, I
    I would have endured;
    if it was an enemy exalting himself opposing me,
    I would have hidden.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “It is not my enemies who are hostile towards me,
    them [my enemies] I could tolerate.
    It’s not my enemies who are defaming me,
    from them I could have escaped.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “If my enemy insults me I can-endure this.
    If my opposition puts- me -down/[lit. -low] I can-avoid him/her.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “If there is an enemy who laughs at me,
    I would endure him,
    if there be an enemy who comes to fight against me,
    I would hide myself from him.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Siyo adui yangu ambaye ananitukana,
    kama ingekuwa kama hivyo ingekuwa nimevumilia.
    Siyo ndiye ambaye hatuelewani ambaye ananidharau,
    ingekuwa nimejificha, asinione.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “If it were an enemy who was making fun of me,
    I could endure it.
    If it were someone who hates me, who despises me,
    I could hide from him.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 57:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 57:8:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Awake my life!
    You awake harp and lyre!
    I will wake up at dawn.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O my soul, wake up.
    O lute, wake up,
    O violin, wake up.
    I will also rouse the dawn.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “I will-wake-up while (it) is-dawning, and I will-prepare myself/[lit. my own self] and my instrument which has strings to praise you (sing.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Wake up my spirit!
    You wake my harps!
    I will wake up when the sun appears.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee moyo wangu, amka!
    Ewe zeze na ee malimba, amka!
    Nitajihimu kukuimbia alfajiri.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “I will awaken myself;
    I will arise before the sun rises
    and praise you while I play my harp or my lyre/small harp.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 60:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 60:1:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “You Jehovah you have indeed rejected us, and you have destroyed for us our (those who) protect us.
    You are angry with us, now restore to old!” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O God! You have abandoned us.
    You have become angry with us.
    so You have even stopped protecting us.
    Please care for us again.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “O God, you (sing.) have-rejected us (excl.) and have-caused- us (excl.) -to-be-defeated.
    You have-been-angry/are-angry with us (excl.), but now take-notice-of/pay-attention-to us (excl.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “God, you rejected us and you defeated us,
    you were angry at us, but now please turn to us.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee Mungu, umetutupa na kutukanyaga,
    umechukia, tafadhari uturudishie nguvu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “I prayed, ‘God, you have rejected us Israelis!
    Because you have been angry with us,
    you have enabled our enemies to break through our ranks.
    Please enable us to be strong again!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 63:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 63:1:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “You God, you are my God,
    with honesty of heart I seek you;
    my life has thirst seeking for You,
    my body is desiring you,
    in a dry and tiresome land
    where there is no water.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O God, You are my God.
    I keep searching for You from my innermost heart.
    Without you my heart is thirsty,
    like ground which is dry and gloomy and has no water.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “O God, you (sing.) (are) my God.
    I am-searching-for [intensifier] you (sing.).
    My whole life thirsts for you (sing.),
    seems-like that I (am) in a dry land which has-no water.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “God, you are my God,
    I need you very much,
    my spirit need you much, like I seek water,
    my body desire you much,
    in a dry land
    where there is no water.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee Mungu, wewe ambaye Mungu wangu,
    moyo wangu unakutamani wewe,
    kama vile mtu mwenye kiu,
    ambaye yuko katika nchi kavu isiyo na maji yoyote.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “God, you are the God whom I worship.
    I greatly desire to be with you
    like a person in a dry hot desert greatly desires some cool water.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 65:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 65:12:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “A grassy area in the wilderness overflow;
    mountains are clothed with joy.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “The fields of the desert are green.
    And the mountains overflow with joy.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “The grazing-areas in the desolate-place (are) abundant in grass;
    the hills/mountains (are) like people who rejoice/are-happy.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The grass grows well in the grass land,
    and the mountains rejoice.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mifugo imejaa katika majani ya mbugani,
    milima imejaa furaha.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “The pastures are full of flocks of sheep and goats;
    it is as though the hills are very joyful.” (Source: Translation for Translators)