Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 80:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 80:16:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Your vine has been cut and burned with fire;
    at your rebuke your people have been destroyed.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “The enemy has cut down Your grapevine,
    and setting it on fire, has burned it.
    Show them [Your] anger,
    and destroy them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “O God, (it) seems that we (excl.) (are) as-if a grape-vine that was-cut-down and burned.
    You looked-at us (excl.) with anger and you (sing.) destroyed us (excl.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Our enemies cut down your tree of wine,
    and the fire burned it,
    you destroy them by your anger.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Gbaya: “People pulled up the vine and threw it into the fire and it burned gbulɛɛ [ideophone to express wickedness] like dry cow dung. If you frown and look at them, they will all die gbuɗuk [ideophone to express a calamity befalling many people at once — see here].” (Source: Philip Noss)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Maadui wameukata mti wako wa mizabibu,
    wameuchoma katika moto,
    uonyeshe hasira zako, uwangamize.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Our enemies have torn down and burned everything in our land;
    look at them angrily and get rid of them!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 83:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 83:5:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “With one heart they are preparing a plot;
    They have done an alliance to oppose you;” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Having united they schemed together.
    and they united to oppose You,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “They agreed-with-one-another in their evil plan.
    They made an agreement to go-against you (plur.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “They plot these matters in one place,
    they gathered themselves to come for war against you,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kwa maana wanakubaliana, wako moyo mmoja,
    wanaapa kupigana na wewe,” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “They have agreed on what they want to do to destroy Israel,
    and they have formed an alliance against you.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 85:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 85:7:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Show us your never ending love, You Jehovah,
    and give us your salvation.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Show us Your ever existing love, O LORD,
    and give us Your salvation.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “LORD, show us (excl.) your (sing.) love and save us (excl.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD, show us your everlasting love,
    and give us your salvation.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee Bwana, utuonyeshe neema yako,
    utuokoe sisi.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, by rescuing us from our troubles/ difficulties,
    show us that you faithfully love us.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 88:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 88:2:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Let my prayer reach before you;
    set your ear that you hear my cry.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Hear my prayer,
    Hear my prayer for help.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Listen to my prayer;
    answer my calling-(out) to you (sing.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Would you (sing.) let my prayer come to you,
    hear my cry with your ear.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Pokea sala yangu,
    usikilize kilio changu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Listen to my prayer, while I cry out to you for help!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 89:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 89:16:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “They celebrate in your name the whole complete day;
    they enjoy exceedingly in your righteousness.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “They rejoice in Your name all day long.
    and because of Your righteousness they exult.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Because of you (sing.) they always rejoice,
    and they praise your (sing.) righteousness.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “They rejoice all day, because of your names,
    they praise you, because of your goodness.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Wanafurahi katika jina lako muda wote,
    wanafurahia unyofu wako, kwa sababu ni mzuri kwao.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Every day, throughout the day, they rejoice in what you have done,
    and they praise you for being very good to them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 89:48)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 89:48:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Which person can have life and not see death?
    Or save himself from the power of the grave?
    Selah” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Who will live forever?
    Who is able to save himself from the power of death?
    Interlude” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Who (is) the person that will- not -die?
    Can- a person -avoid death?” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Who would be alive and does not die,
    or would escape the power of grave?” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mtu yupi atakuwako katika uhai milele na milele?
    Nani anaweza kujiokoa katika kifo?” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “No one can keep on living and never die;
    No one can avoid going/Everyone will go to the place of the dead.
    (Think about that!)” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 91:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 91:11:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “For he will command his angels about you,
    that they defend you carefully on all your paths;” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “No matter where you go,
    God will order His angels to protect you.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “For God will-command his angels to-watch you (sing.) everywhere you (sing.) go.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “For God will give his angels to take care of you,
    to watch you in all ways that you are going,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kwa maana anawatuma malaika zake,
    wakulinde katika njia yako yote.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “because Yahweh will command his angels to protect you wherever you go.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 94:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 94:7:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “They say, ‘Jehovah is not seeing;
    the God of Jacob does not care.’” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “They say, "The LORD does not see us.
    The God of Jacob does not care about us."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “They say, ‘The LORD can- not -see what we (incl.) are-doing;
    the God of Jacob pays- no -attention.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “They speak that, ‘The LORD does not curse us.
    The God of people of Jacob does not care about bout this matter.’” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Tena wanasema, ‘BWANA hayaoni,
    Mungu wa Yakobo haelewi.’” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Those wicked people say, ‘Yahweh does not see anything;
    so the God whom those Israelis worship does not see the evil things that we do.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)