Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 31:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 31:19:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Great is your goodness
    which you have reserved for those who fear you,
    which you give while people are watching
    to those who flee to You.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “How great is the good news
    You have kept for those who fear You.
    And in the presence of all
    You meet the needs of those
    who come to You for shelter.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “How great (is) your (sing.) goodness which you (sing.) have-stored-up/reserved for those (who) respect you (sing.).
    While the people are-staring/gazing,
    you (sing.) show/[lit. cause-to-be-seen] goodness to those (who) ask-for protection from you (sing.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “All of the good things which you give to people who honor you are better than anything else. Before the eyes of many people, you give all good things to people who worship you.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “How great your goodness be,
    who you keep for people who respect you,
    who you give to people who hide in you
    so that other people see.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee BWANA, ni mzuri sana,
    umewawekea mazuri ambao wanakutii.
    Ambao wanakimbilia kwako, unawatendea mazuri,
    wakati watu wote wanaona.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You have stored up many blessings for those who revere you.
    You do those good things for those who go to you to be protected;
    everyone sees you doing that.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 33:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 33:16:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “There is no king who is saved because of the size of his group of warriors;
    there is no soldier who escapes with his great strength.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “No king will win just by having strong soldiers.
    and no soldier will be able to win just by his strength.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “A king does-not win in a battle just because of his many soldiers.
    A soldier (is) not saved/(safe) in a battle just because of his great strength.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “There is no king who can avoid others conquering him though he has many soldiers. And there is no soldier who can avoid someone else harming him, even though he has great strength.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Many soldiers do not help their king,
    or the warrior is not helped by his power.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mfalme haokolewi kwa wingi wa wapigana vita wake,
    au shujaa kushinda kwa wingi wa nguvu zake.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “It is not because a king has a great army that he is able to win battles,
    and it is not because a soldier is very strong that he is able to defeat his enemy.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 35:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 35:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Those who are seeking my life
    let them be mocked and ashamed;
    those who are planning that my life should be destroyed
    let them turn back frighteningly.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Those who are trying to kill me
    and those who are trying to harm me
    chase [them] away in shame.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “May those (who) try to-kill me be-put-to-shame.
    May-it-be that those (who) plan for my destruction will-flee in-confusion/panicking.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “People who look for a way to kill me, allow them to be shamed. People who bring out evil ways to oppose me, request you allow them to go back again and run scattered in different places.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Would you (sing.) let those who want to kill,
    to be defeated and to be ashamed.
    Would you (sing.) let those who plan to kill me
    to go back and to be confuse.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Iwashike aibu tena waaibike,
    ambao wanataka kuniua.
    Warudishwe nyuma, wahangaike,
    ambao wanapanga kuniumiza.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Cause those who are trying to kill me to be defeated and disgraced!
    Cause those who are planning to do evil things to me to be pushed back and become confused!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 36:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 36:8:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “They feast on a lot of things of your house;
    You give them a drink from your river of celebration.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “You have been feeding them sufficiently.
    You have let them drink from your river of joy..” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “They satisfy-(themselves) on the abundance of food in your (sing.) house;
    you (sing.) have- them -drink from your (sing.) tasty water.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “They eat to the full because of the food you provide, and drink water that flows continually because of that good thing.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “They eat great feast of food that is staying in your home.
    You gave them drink that come from your river of joy.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Wanashiba vyakula vya katika nyumba yako,
    unawanywesha maji ya mto wa uzuri wako.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You provide for us plenty of food from the abundant supply that you have;
    your great blessings for us flow like a river.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 37:28)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 37:28:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “For Jehovah loves the righteous
    and he will not leave his faithful ones.
    They will be protected forever,
    but the grandchildren of the wicked will be removed;” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “For the LORD is one who loves truth,
    He will never abandon those who trust Him.
    He will always protect them.
    But the descendants of the wicked will be destroyed.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “For the LORD loves justice
    and he does- not -forsake/abandon those (who are) faithful to him.
    He will-care-for them forever/[lit. until whenever],
    but the descendants of the wicked will-be-driven-out from the land of Israel.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “For God loves righteousness. He doesn’t discard people who are righteous toward him. Surely he always protects those people. But as for the offspring of wicked people, God casts them out.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “For the LORD loves people who do right well,
    and he will not leave his people who keep his word.
    He will keep them forever,
    but the children of the wick will be destroyed.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kwa maana BWANA anaupenda unyofu,
    hawaachi watakatifu wake.
    Anawalinda milele na milele,
    lakini watoto wa watenda dhambi watakuja kuangamizwa.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “That will happen because Yahweh likes to see people doing what is just,
    and he will never forsake righteous/ godly people.
    He will protect them forever;
    but he will get rid of the children of wicked people.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 38:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 38:20:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Those who return evil to me instead of good
    they scorn me when I follow good things.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “They have been doing bad things to me in return for the good work that I do.
    And they have been going against the good work that I do.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “They repay me with evil for the good which I do to them.
    And they go-against/oppose me for I try to-do good.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Those who pay back bad for good, they don’t want to see me, because I want to continually do what is right.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “They pay my good matters with the badness,
    they insult me when I do matter which is good.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ambao wananirudishia kisasi mabaya katika mema,
    wananipinga kwa sababu nafanya mazuri.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Those who do evil things to me in return for my doing good things to them
    oppose me because I try to do what is right.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 40:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 40:17:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “However, I am poor and needy;
    may the Lord consider me.
    You are my hope and the one who redeems me;
    You my God, do not delay.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O LORD! I am a poor person who doesn’t have anything.
    But You have not forgotten me.
    You are the one who saves me and [You are] my God.
    Come quickly to help me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Concerning me, I (am) lowly and poor.
    May-it-be that you (sing.) think of me, LORD.
    You (sing.) (are) my one-who-helps and one-who-saves.
    O my God, help me right-away.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “I am weak and very poor. But you never discard me. Oh God my Lord! You are the one who saves me, and you constantly protect me. Request you come quickly to help me.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “But instead, I am poor, and I need many things,
    would the Lord remember me.
    You are my Savior who release me.
    God, do not stay away for long.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Lakini mimi niko maskini tena mhitaji,
    Bwana anihurumie.
    Ee msaada wangu tena uko mwokozi wangu.
    Ee Mungu wangu, usichelewe.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “As for me, I am poor and needy;
    but I know that Yahweh has not forgotten me.
    O my God, you are the one who saves and helps me,
    so please come quickly and help me!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 44:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 44:3:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “They did not snatch away the land with their sword,
    it (was) not their arm that brought them victory,
    but it (was) your right hand, your arm and the light of your face,
    for you loved them.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “They did not conquer the land by the strength of the sword,
    nor did they defeat [them] by their own power.
    [It was] by Your right hand, by Your arm
    and by the light of Your face that they conquered.
    For You loved them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “But the truth (is), (it is) not by-means-of weapons-of-war and ability of our (excl.) ancestors that they became victorious and they acquired the land,
    but-rather by-means-of your (sing.) power, ability, and mercy/goodness,
    because you (sing.) love them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “It was not because of swords that your people contended for and got that land. But that happened solely because your great power and strength were with them. Like that they knew you loved them.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Your people did not take that land by their swords,
    or they did not take by their power,
    but you (sing.) captured that land with your power,
    and with the glory of your face, because you loved them.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Hawakuishinda nchi kwa panga zao,
    au kwa nguvu zao.
    Walishinda kwa nguvu yako kuu,
    kwa nuru yako tukufu,
    kwa sababu ulipendezewa nao.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “It was not by using their own swords that they conquered the people that lived in that land,
    and it was not by their own power that they were victorious;
    it was only by your power that they did those things;
    and they were sure that you were with them, and that showed that you were pleased with them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)