Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 44:24)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 44:24:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Why are you hiding your face,
    and forget our problems and our oppression?” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Why have You looked away?
    And why have You forgotten the trouble and torture that we experience?” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Why are- you (sing.) -hiding from us (excl.) and you (sing.) forget our (excl.) suffering including the oppressing of us (excl.)?” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Why do you hide yourself from us? Request you don’t forget us, people who suffer misery and very great troubles.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Why are you hiding your face
    and you forget our suffering and our oppression?” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kwa nini hututazami?
    Unasahau kwa nini shida na mateso yetu?” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Why are you not looking at us?
    Why are you forgetting that we are suffering and being oppressed by our enemies?” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 47:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 47:2:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “He is indeed dangerous Jehovah the One in the Highest;
    the great King of the whole earth!” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “We must fear the LORD Most High,
    He is the great king of the whole earth.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “How respectable the LORD (is), the Most High God.
    He (is) the powerful king over the whole world.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD Most High be powerful and glorious,
    the Great King who rule all the world.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kwa maana BWANA ni Mkuu wa kutisha,
    yeye ni Mfalme Mkuu wa dunia yote.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, who is much greater than any other god, is awesome;
    he is the king who rules over all the world!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 49:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 49:11:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Their grave will be their houses until forever,
    their dwelling place through the time of their generations,
    even though they called places their names.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “No matter how much land
    they collect in their name,
    The grave is their eternal home,
    They will stay there forever.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Their burial-place/grave will-be their house without end.
    They will-live/dwell there forever/[lit. until whenever] even-though they had lands that they owned.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Their tombs will be their houses forever,
    homes in which they stay years and years,
    even though they names the nations after themselves.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Makaburi yao yanakuwa ndiyo nyumba zao milele na milele,
    makao yao siku zote,
    hata kama walijiona kuwa watu wakuu sana.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Those wise people once had houses on land that they owned,
    but now their graves are their homes forever, the place where they will stay for all time!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 50:23)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 50:23:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “He who gives the sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me,
    and he prepares his path that I show him,
    the salvation of God.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Those who really offer a sacrifice of thanks glorify me,
    and to those who follow my path,
    I will show the salvation of God."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “The-one (who) sacrifices to me with thanksgiving honors me,
    and the-one (who) watches his ways/character/behavior I will-save.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “A person who brings of things sacrifice is fearing me,
    then he prepares the way,
    so that I would show him the salvation of God.’” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ambaye anatoa vya shukrani,
    huyo ananiheshimu mimi.
    Yeyote ambaye anatembea katika njia nyofu,
    huyo mimi nitamwokoa.’” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “The sacrifice that truly honors me is to thank me for what I have done;
    and I will save those who always do the things that I want them to.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 53:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 53:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Are these people who do evil going to learn;
    how people eat bread,
    and they do not pray to God?” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Will those who keep on doing evil ever learn?
    They are eating our people like they eat bread.
    And they do not call on [lit.: take the name of] God at all.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Do- these wicked people/men -know what they are-doing? Of-course/certainly (they) know!
    In-fact they extort/obtain-by-improper-pressure (money) from my fellowmen/countrymen like-as-if they just gobble-up/devour/swallow-whole food,
    and they do-not pray to God.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Will really bad people never learn?
    Those who eat my people like people eat food,
    and they never pray God.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Je, watenda mabaya hawaelewi?
    Wanawala watu wangu kama mikate,
    wameacha kumwabudu Mungu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Will all these evil people never learn what God will do to them?
    They act violently toward Yahweh’s people while eating the food that he provides, and they never pray to Yahweh.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 55:23)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 55:23:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “But You God will bring down wicked people
    entering in a pit of destruction;
    people (who) shed blood and deceitful people
    they will not be alive half of their days,
    but I rely on You.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “But O God, You will push the wicked down into the pit of destruction.
    Murderers and liars will die before their time.
    But I will be trusting You, LORD God!
    A Psalm of David. For the Choir Director — ‘To the tune, Dove on distant oaks,’’ When the Philistines seized [him] in the city of Gath.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “But the ones-who-kill and ones (who) deceive/cheat he will-throw into a very deep pit before their lives are-half-way.
    But I on-the-other-hand, will-trust in him.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “But, God, you will put people who are bad
    in hole of destruction,
    people who kill people and they tell lies
    they will only live a few days.
    But instead, I will put my heart on you.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Lakini wewe Mungu, utawatupa katika shimo lenye kina kirefu,
    wauaji na wadanganyifu.
    Hawatakuja kuwa na maisha marefu,
    lakini mimi nitakutumaini wewe.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “God, you will cause murderers and liars to die before they have lived half as long as they expect to live;
    but as for me, I will trust in you.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 58:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 58:8:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Let them be like a snail that melts when it is moving;
    like a dead child not yet born, they should not see the sun.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “May they disappear like snails going along the path.
    And may they be like a child who dies at birth
    and does not get to see the light of the sun.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Let/[wish particle] them be like a snail that melts while crawling,
    or like a child that was-born dead, who does-not see light.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “May they stay like snail which leave water which melts to disappear.
    Let them stay like small child that was born already dead,
    who does not see the light.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Watoweke kama vile konokono ambaye anayeyuka,
    wawe kama vile mtoto ambaye amezaliwa amekufa,
    ambaye hajaliona hata mara moja jua.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Cause them to become like snails that disappear in the slime;
    cause them to be like babies that are born dead!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 60:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 60:12:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Because of God, we will find victory
    and we will trample our enemies.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “With God’s help we will win,
    He will defeat our enemies.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “We (excl.) will-win by-means-of your (sing.) help, O God,
    for you (sing.) will-defeat our (excl.) enemies.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “We will defeat our enemies when our God is with us,
    he will step on our enemies.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mungu iwapo yuko upande wetu, tutashinda,
    yeye atawaponda maadui zetu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “But with you helping us, we shall win;
    you will enable us to defeat our enemies.” (Source: Translation for Translators)