Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 1:1)

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

  • Chichewa Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero translation, 2002/2016:
    “Blessed (is) a person.
    who does not follow the counsel of sinful people,
    or stand in the path of wicked people,
    or sit in the groups of scornful people.” (Source: Chichewa Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Blessed is the person
    who does not follow evil people,
    who does not follow the path of sinners,
    who does not go along with those
    who keep on belittling others.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Blessed is the man/person who does- not -live in the guidance/advice of the wicked people,
    does- not -follow what the sinners do,
    and does- not -join-with the people who mock/ridicule.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Whatever person does not follow the teaching of the evil person,
    or does not do according to what the sinner does, or does not follow/imitate those
    those who customarily mock God, surely that person receives blessing.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Blessed be the person
    who does not follow the instructions of bad people,
    or who does not follow the way of sinners,
    or does not stay with people who mock God.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • West African language:
    “If you want to be truly happy do not hear the advice of bad people,
    do not walk in the feet of those who refuse God?
    Do not live in the compound of those who spoil God’s name.” (Source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1983, p. 420ff. )
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Amebarikiwa ambaye hayafuati maneno ya waovu,
    ambaye haendi katika njia za watenda dhambi,
    ambaye hakai katika ambao wanadharau.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “God is pleased with those who do not do what wicked people advise them to do,
    and who do not imitate the behavior of sinful people,
    and who do not join in with people who ridicule/sneer at God.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 2:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 2:1:

  • Chichewa Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero translation, 2002/2016:
    “Why do people of other races want to do a conspiracy?
    Why are the people plotting worthless things?” (Source: Chichewa Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Why do the nations keep on conspiring?
    Why do people go on setting needless traps?” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Why do nations plan evil?
    Why do they plan of no value?” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Why do all the people in the countries of the world look for ways to accuse/blame? Why do they discuss ideas/ways that have no meaning/results?” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Why do the nations plot bad matters
    and people plot bad matters,
    that they do not have the power to do it?” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kwa nini makabila yanasemezana kumwasi Mungu,
    tena nchi zinawaza ya ovyo?” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Why do the leaders of nations rage against God?/ It is foolish for the nations to be angry with God.
    Why do people plan to rebel against God even though it is in vain?/ It is useless for people to plan to rebel against God!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 2:2)

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

  • Chichewa Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero translation, 2002/2016:
    “The kings of the earth are in agreement with this;
    and the rulers have gathered together
    contending with the Lord
    and his anointed one.” (Source: Chichewa Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “The kings and rulers of the earth
    will stand against the LORD
    and His anointed one,
    and the rulers will make schemes.
    And by plotting together the rulers lay traps.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “The kings and leaders/[lit. heads] gathered and prepared to-fight against the LORD and his chosen king.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Kings on this earth and all others in authority, all of them agree to discuss warring with God and the King that God has chosen.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The kings of nations plan war
    and the leaders gather to go for war
    with the LORD
    and with the king who he has chosen.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Wafalme wa katika nchi Wamejiandaa,
    viongozi wanasemezana pamoja,
    kumwasi BWANA na mpakwa mafuta wake.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “The kings of the nations prepare to revolt;
    the rulers plot together to fight against Yahweh and against his chosen king.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 2:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 2:3:

  • Chichewa Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero translation, 2002/2016:
    “They are saying that, ‘Let us loosen their yokes
    and let us throw away their ropes.’” (Source: Chichewa Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “They cry, ‘Break their chains
    and take off their shackles."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “They say, ‘Let- us (incl.) not -cause/allow-to-be-ruled or cause/allow-to-be-subject-under them.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “The kings of this age discuss saying: "Let’s separate from God’s ruling over us. We won’t allow God and the King he has chosen to rule over us anymore."” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “And then they talked said that, ‘Let us cut the chains which tied us
    and we free ourselves.’” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Wanasema, ‘Tujifungue katika mamlaka yao,
    tujifungue tuwe huru.’” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “They shout, ‘We should free ourselves from their control;
    we should not let them rule over us any longer!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 2:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 2:4:

  • Chichewa Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero translation, 2002/2016:
    “The one sitting on high is laughing;
    The Lord is scorning them.” (Source: Chichewa Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “The one on the throne in heaven will laugh,
    The LORD will not even be concerned about them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “But the Lord who sits on his throne there in heaven just laughs and loathes/mocks them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “But God, who lives in the sky, he laughs at them and mocks them.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “And LORD who is sitting down on chair in heaven, mocks at them,
    and he is just playing with them.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ambaye anakaa mbinguni anacheka,
    Bwana anawadharau.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “But Yahweh, the one who sits on his throne in heaven, laughs at them;
    he ridicules those rulers.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 2:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 2:5:

  • Chichewa Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero translation, 2002/2016:
    “And he rebukes them in his anger
    and threatens them in his wrath, saying that,” (Source: Chichewa Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “He will terrify them in anger,
    In anger He will cause them to tremble.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “In his anger, he warns them and they (are) afraid.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Then God feels very angry, so he warns them. He makes them very afraid of his anger.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “And from there, he shouted to them with anger
    to tremble very much, and he said that,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Basi amechukia, anawakemea,
    yuko na hasira anawatisha, anasema,” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Then, because he is angry with them, he rebukes them.
    He causes them to be terrified when they realize that he will furiously punish them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 2:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 2:6:

  • Chichewa Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero translation, 2002/2016:
    “‘I have established my king
    on Zion, my holy mountain.’” (Source: Chichewa Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “‘I have enthroned my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “He has-said, ‘I already placed in Zion, in my holy mountain, the king that I have-chosen.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “God said: "I have chosen the mountain Sion, my own mountain, to be the place where I put the King I have chosen."” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “I put my king
    in Zion, on my holy mountain.’” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “‘Nimemweka mfalme ambaye nimemchagua,
    katika mlima Sayuni, mlima wangu mtakatifu.’
    Mfalme huyo anasema,” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh says, ‘I have installed my king on Zion, my sacred hill in Jerusalem.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 2:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 2:7:

  • Chichewa Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero translation, 2002/2016:
    “I will proclaim what Jehovah has commanded:
    He said to Me, ‘You are my child;
    today I have become your Father.” (Source: Chichewa Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “The king will proclaim what the LORD said (the LORD’s decree):
    ‘The LORD said to me, ‘You are my son,
    from today I have become your father.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “The king that was-chosen by God said,
    ‘I will-tell-others/declare what the LORD said to me, ‘You (sing.) (are) my son/[lit. child],
    and this-day/right-now I will-introduce/make-known that I am your (sing.) father.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “The King God chose said this: "I will tell of the ways God has promised already. God said like this to me: ‘You are my child. Today I surely become your Father.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “I will tell the matter in which the LORD promised to me.
    Who told me that, ‘You are my son,
    today I become your Father.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “‘Nitatangaza sheria ya BWANA,
    aliniambia alisema,
    ‘Wewe ni mwanangu,
    leo mimi nimekuzaa.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “And his king says, ‘I will proclaim what Yahweh has decreed.
    He said to me, ‘It is as though you are my son; today I have declared to everyone that it is as though I am your father.” (Source: Translation for Translators)