Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 74:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 74:16:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “The afternoon is yours and the night is yours as well;
    You established the sun and the moon.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “You created both day and night.
    You caused both sun and moon to exist.
    You put them in place.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (sing.) made the day and night,
    and you (sing.) set the sun and the moon in their place/position.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The day is yours, and also the night is yours.
    You who made the sun and the moon.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mchana ni wako na usiku ni wako,
    uliumba mwezi na jua.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You created the days and the nights, and you put the sun and the moon in their places.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 77:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 77:3:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I remembered You God, and I groaned;
    I pondered and my spirit became weary.
    Selah” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “When I had thoughts of God I groaned.
    Even when I meditated, my heart became discouraged.
    Interlude” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “When I meditate on God I sigh and lose hope.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “God, I remembered you, and I groaned,
    when I thought, my spirit became weak.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Nilimwaza Mungu, nililia.
    Niliwaza, nguvu zikaniishia.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “When I think about God, I despair/think that he will never help me;
    when I meditate about him, I am discouraged.
    (Think about that!)” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 78:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 78:15:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “He tore up stones in the wilderness
    and gave them more water like that of many lakes;” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Splitting a big rock in the desert,
    causing water to pour out,
    He gave them water to drink.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “He caused- the rocks -to-crack/split-open in the desolate-place and the water flowed
    and he had- them drink -as-much- water -as-they-wanted like-as-if (it) came-from the depths of the ground.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “He broke rocks in a desert,
    so that much water flowed,
    which be like big seas,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Gbaya: “He split the rocks in the desert, water flowed out stood ritually still [use of the ideophone dɔŋgɔrɔɔ], the people could hardly drink it it was so much.” (Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages.) (Source: Philip Noss)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Akaipasua miamba jangwani,
    ikatoa maji ya kunywa,
    yalikuwa mengi kama ya katika bahari.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “He split rocks open in the desert,
    giving to our ancestors plenty of water from deep inside the earth.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 78:47)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 78:47:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “He destroyed their vines with hailstones
    and also their trees of figs with frost.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “He destroyed their grapevines with hail,
    and by freezing, He killed the fig trees.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “He killed their grape-vines and fig trees by-means-of ice rain.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “He destroyed their gardens of grapes
    and of figs by hailstones.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Aliiharibu miti yao na mvua ya mawe,
    mikuyu yao, na mvua ya barafu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “He sent hail that destroyed the grapevines, and sent frost that ruined the figs.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 79:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 79:7:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “for they have swallowed Jacob
    and ruined their country.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “For they have killed the descendants of Jacob,
    and they have destroyed Your dwelling place.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “For they killed your (sing.) people and destroyed their nation.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “For they killed people of Jacob,
    and they destroyed their land.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kwa maana wamewararua watu wako,
    na kuiharibu nchi yao.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “because they have killed Israeli people and they have ruined your country.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 81:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 81:7:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “On your problems you called and I rescued you,
    I answered you from the clouds of thunders;
    I tested you on the water from Meribah.
    Selah” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “You called when you experienced trouble,
    I saved you.
    I answered you from the thundercloud.
    Then at the water of Meriba I tested you.
    Interlude” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “When you (plur.) (were) in-trouble/difficulty you (plur.) called-(out) to me and I saved you (plur.).
    From rainclouds I answered you (plur.).
    I tested you (plur.) there at the spring of Meriba.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “From your suffering, you called me and I saved you,
    I answered you from thunder cloud,
    I tested you at the water of Meribah.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Wakati mko katika shida, mliniita,
    niliwaokoa, niliwajibu,
    wakati niko katika mawingu ya radi.
    Niliwajaribu katika maji, katika Meriba.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “When you were greatly distressed, you called out to me, and I rescued you;
    I answered you out of a thundercloud.
    Later I tested whether you would trust me to give you water when you were in the desert at Meribah.
    (Think about that!)” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 83:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 83:15:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “so chase them with stormy wind,
    and terrify them with a storm.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Chase them relentlessly with a storm and frightening wind,
    making them tremble.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Destroy them and cause-(them)-to-be-afraid of your (sing.) storm like fire [linker] burning trees on a mountain/hill.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “you chase them with very big wind,
    and you give them to always tremble with a very big storm.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “uwafukuze na tufani,
    uwatishe na upepo wako mkali.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “expel them by sending storms;
    cause them to be terrified by your big storms/hurricanes!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 86:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 86:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
    for I rely on You.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Cause Your servant to rejoice.
    For I lift my heart to You, O LORD.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Make- me -happy, Lord, your (sing.) servant for to you (sing.) I pray.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD , you give me your servant to be happy,
    for my heart worships you.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee Bwana, unipe furaha mimi mtumishi wako,
    kwa sababu naomba kwako wewe.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Lord, cause me to be glad,
    because I pray to/worship you.” (Source: Translation for Translators)