Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 17:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 17:6:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I am calling You, my God, for you will answer me;
    pay attention to me and hear my prayer.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O God! I pray to you
    because You answer me.
    Look towards me and hear my prayer.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “O God, I am-praying to you (sing.)
    for I know that you (sing.) will-answer me.
    Listen to my prayer.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “I call on you oh God, because you respond to me. Request that you lean your ear to hear my prayer requesting from you.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “God, I am worshipping you,
    because you will answer me,
    hear my prayer.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee Mungu, naomba kwako,
    kwa sababu wewe utanijibu mimi.
    Tega masikio yako,
    wakati naomba kwako.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “O God, I pray to you because you answer me; please listen to what I am saying.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 18:23)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 18:23:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I have lived a blameless life before his eyes
    and I have lived and avoided sin.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “He knows that I am one who has no guilt
    and [that I] have been moving away from sin.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (sing.) know that my life (is) without blame
    and I have-avoided to-sin.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “The Lord already knows that no one can accuse me of anything. And I stay far away from bad works.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “He knows me that I have no sin,
    and that I kept myself from bad matters.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mbele yake sikuwa na hatia yoyote,
    nilikuwa naepuka dhambi.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “He knows that I have not done what is wrong;
    I have kept myself from sinning.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 19:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 19:5:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “The sun is like a bride coming from her tower,
    like a champion celebrating running a race.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Early in the morning he will come out rejoicing,
    like a man who has just been married.
    It comes out like a runner who rejoices to win a race.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “And from there the sun come-out in the morning
    like a happy groom going-out from the place where he got-married,
    or like a champion runner, who (is) ready to-run.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “The sun comes out in the morning like a bridegroom happily going to fetch his bride. He feels jubilant like a person running a race.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The sun comes out in morning like bridegroom from his home,
    like a strong person who rejoice when he runs.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Linatoka na furaha kama anaeoa mwanamke,
    ambaye anatoka katika chumba chake.
    Linafurahi kukimbia sana,
    kama vile mtu mwenye nguvu,
    ambaye anakimbia kuwazidi wenzake.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “it rises each morning like a bridegroom who is happy as he comes out of his bedroom after his wedding.
    It is like a strong athlete who is very eager to start running in a race.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 22:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 22:1:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “My God, my God, why have you left me?
    Why are you not helping me even a little bit?
    Why are you not hearing the voice of my complaining?” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O God! My God,
    Why have You abandoned me?
    Even though I pray so much to You
    Why are You [so] far from me?” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “My God, my God, why have- you (sing.) -forsaken me?
    Why (are) you (sing.) far from me?
    I am- now -groaning with suffering, but you (sing.) are- still not -helping me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “My God! My God! Why have you discarded me? I call out asking you to help, but you don’t listen to the voice of my pleading.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “My God, my God, why have you left me?
    why are you far in helping me,
    in matters in which I groan?” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mungu wangu, Mungu wangu, mbona umeniacha?
    Mbona unakuwa mbali huniokoi?
    Mbona huji wakati napiga yowe kwako?” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “My God, my God, why have you abandoned/ deserted me?
    Why do you stay so far from me,
    and why do you not hear/help me? Why do you not hear me when I am groaning?” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 23:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 23:2:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “He lays me in green pastures,
    He leads me to clean drinking water,” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Chichewa interconfessional translation, 1999:
    “He lays me down on a pasture of new grass.
    He guides me to still waters to go and rest there.” (Source: Wendland 1998, p. 148f.)
  • Chichewa poetic translation in the traditional ndakatulo genre to encourage oral and musical performances:
    “DOWN! [Gonee! — an ideophone, i.e. a literary device that expresses what is perceived by the five senses] on fresh greens he makes me lie down.
    [My] resting place is at quiet waters,” (Source: Ernst Wendland)
  • Kupsabiny:
    “He makes me graze where there is green grass, and makes me sleep/lie there.
    He leads me to the water that flows in silence.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Adilabad Gondi:
    “He (emph.) causes me to lie down in green grass.
    He leads me to slow flowing clean/good water.” (Source: Adilabad Gondi Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “He causes me to lie down in green grass,
    He takes me along to ponds of clear water.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “I (am) like a sheep that you (sing.) cause- me -to-rest in a pasture which (has) abundant grass
    and is-being-led to calm/quiet water(s).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “He leads me to go to a beautiful good place, like a keeper ordinarily leads his sheep to rest in a field of very good green grass, a place that has clear water flowing and is quiet.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “He gives me rest in a place where the grass stays good,
    he takes me to the place where water stays still,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ananilaza penye nyika penye majani mazuri.
    Ananipeleka penye maji mazuri.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You encourage me
    and give me peace;
    you are like a shepherd
    who leads his sheep to places where there is plenty of green grass for them to eat,
    and lets them rest beside streams where the water is flowing slowly.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 25:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 25:18:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Look at my sufferings and my troubles
    and wipe away all my sins.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Care for all my sorrow and trouble,
    and forgive all my sins.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Take-notice of my sufferings,
    and forgive all my sins.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Request that you look to see how much I suffer, and request that you forgive my sin.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “See my sadness and my suffering,
    and forgive all my bad matters.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Uyaangalie mateso yangu na shida zangu,
    unisamehe dhambi zangu zote.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Note that I am distressed and troubled, and forgive me for all my sins.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 28:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 28:2:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Hear my requesting for mercy
    when I am calling on You to help me,
    when I lifting my hands
    pointing to your most holy place.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “When I pray for help
    and when I lift [my] hands toward your holy place,
    listen to my prayer.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Listen to my pleading asking for help from you (sing.),
    while I am-facing to your (sing.) holy temple [Linker] lifting-up my hands.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Request you listen when I call out asking for your help. Surely I lift my hands toward your big worshiping house when I pray like that.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Hear my cry for mercy,
    as I am calling you to come and help me,
    as I lift up my hands
    to your Place which is Most Holy Much.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Usikie sauti yangu, unihurumie,
    wakati naomba kwako ili uniokoe.
    Ninakuomba unisaidie,
    nainua mikono yangu kwa hekalu lako takatifu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Listen to me when I call out for you to help me, when I pray, lifting up my hands as I face your sacred temple.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 31:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 31:2:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Give your ear to me,
    come quickly to rescue me;
    be my rock fleeing to,
    a strong fortress to save me.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Listen to my prayer.
    And save me quickly.
    Become a big rock for me
    By becoming a fortress, please save me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Listen to me and save (me) right-away.
    Protect me like a protecting rock;
    defend me like a firm/strong hiding-place.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Request you lean your ear and listen to me. Come quickly to save me! Request you become a refuge for me, and request you protect me when I meet up with difficulties.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Listen to me,
    and you come and help me quickly,
    be my mountain where I hide,
    and you be the place that is fenced to be strong that helps me.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Unijibu mimi, unifungue mara moja,
    uwe mwamba wa kukimbilia,
    ngome ya nguvu ya kuniokoa mimi.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Listen to me, and save me right now!
    Be like a huge rock under which I can hide and like a strong fort in which I will be safe.” (Source: Translation for Translators)