Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 119:102)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 119:102:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I have not turned aside from your laws,
    for You yourself you taught me.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “I have not abandoned Your rules,
    for You indeed have taught me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “I have- not -turned-away from your (sing.) commands,
    for you (sing.) (are) the one teaching me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “I have not reject your laws,
    for you are my teacher.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Siyadharau ambayo umeamua,
    kwa maana umenifundisha mwenyewe.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “I have not turned away from/quit obeying your regulations/the rules that you have given to us,
    because you have taught me while I have studied them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 119:134)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 119:134:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Redeem me from the hands of people who persecute me,
    that I may be able to obey your instructions.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Set me free from those who oppress me.
    So that I may keep Your precepts.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Save me from those (who) oppress me
    so-that I will-obey/follow your (sing.) decrees.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You save me from people who oppress me,
    so that I would keep your teaching.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Uniokoe, hata mmoja asinionee,
    ili niyafuate mausia yako.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Rescue/Save me from those who oppress me
    in order that I may obey your principles of behavior/what you have declared that we should do.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 119:166)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 119:166:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I am waiting for your salvation, You Jehovah,
    and I follow your laws.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O LORD, I have been waiting for Your salvation,
    I obey Your commands.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “I hope that you (sing.) will-save me, LORD,
    and I follow your (sing.) commands.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD, I wait for your salvation,
    and follow your commands.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee BWANA, nakusubiri uniokoe,
    nimeyashika maagizo yako.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, I confidently expect that you will rescue me from my troubles,
    and I obey your commands/what you have commanded us.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 122:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 122:7:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “There should be peace inside your walls,
    and in your houses of kingship let there be security.’” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “May there also be peace within your walls,
    and may there also be good protection in your palace."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “May-it-be that the situation inside of Jerusalem and in the firm/sturdy parts of-it be-peaceful and good.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Would peace stay there inside its walls
    goodness stays within walls which be strong well.’” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Amani iwemo ndani katika kuta zako,
    watu ambao wamo ndani katika ngome zako wastawi.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “I desire that there will be peace inside the walls of the city
    and that people who are inside the palaces will be safe.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 124:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 124:5:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “the roaring water
    would have eroded us.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “The water that gushed forth
    would have completely washed us away.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “(It) seems-like we (incl.) would-have been-carried-away by the flood and covered by the rushing/[lit. strong] water.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “on strong waves of water,
    it would have carried us all to finished.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “maji ambayo yanakwenda kwa nguvu,
    ingekuwa yametuchukua.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “and we would all have drowned in the flood that was raging/flowing very fast.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 129:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 129:7:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “it cannot fill the hands of its cutter
    or the hands of those tying bundles.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “No one will be able to gather them,
    or find them, tie them up and take them away.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “No one gathers this grass or brings this bundled-up.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “the hands of people who cut the grass would not be full,
    or the hands of people who gather be full.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “hayajai hata katika mkono wa mvunaji,
    na ambaye anafunga miganda hayamtoshi.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “as a result no one cuts it and puts it in bundles and carries it away.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 133:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 133:2:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “It is like expensive oil poured on the head,
    that descends to the beards,
    to the beards of Aaron,
    that flows up to the collar of his gown.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “It is like the precious oil that that was put on Aaron’s head,
    flowed down on his beard
    [and] even reached the collar of his clothing.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “This (is) like a precious oil poured-out on the head of Aaron and flows-(down) his beard to the collar of his garment.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “It be like a good oil pour on the head
    that flows going into the beard
    that flows goes to the beard of Aaron,
    down to the edge of his clothes.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Southern Altai lyrics to be performed in traditional jangar song style:
    “Like oil on Aaron’s head poured, with a beautiful smell, flowing down the beard, spreading like oil along the edge.” (Source: Bronwen Cleaver & Justin Randolph in The Bible Translator 2025, p. 73ff.)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kuko kama mafuta mazuri,
    ambayo yanatiririka kichwani,
    yanashuka mpaka katika ndevu za Haruni,
    kufika shingoni mwa kanzu yake.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “It is as delightful as the precious/ expensive olive oil/perfume
    that runs down from the Supreme Priest Aaron’s head onto his beard when he is anointed
    and runs down onto the collar of his robes.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 136:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 136:7:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Who made great lights,
    for his unchanging love is eternal.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “He made the great lights,
    His faithful love endures forever.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “He made the sun and the moon.
    His love (is) without end.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “He who created the big lights,
    his love remains forever.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Aliumba mianga mikubwa,
    neema yake ni ya milele na milele.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “He is the one who created great lights in the sky;
    his faithful love for us endures forever.” (Source: Translation for Translators)