Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 122:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 122:2:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Our feet are standing in the gates
    yours, You Jerusalem.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O Jerusalem,
    We are standing inside your gates.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “And now, we (excl.) are- already -standing at the gate of Jerusalem.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Jerusalem, our feet stand
    at your gates.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Sasa hivi tupo tumesimama,
    ndani katika ua wako, ee Yerusalemu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “And now we are here,
    standing inside the gates/ city of Jerusalem.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 127:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 127:2:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “You just bother yourselves waking up early morning
    and not sleeping early evening,
    toiling for food that you eat,
    for He gives sleep to those he loves.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “It is in vain for you to get up early in the morning
    and go to bed late at night
    in order to work for food to eat.
    for the He gives sleep to the ones that He loves.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “and to rise-up early in-the-morning and go-to-bed late working in-order-to be-able-to-eat (is) also worthless.
    For the LORD is-the-one (who) gives what his beloved ones need, even-if they are sleeping.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You work for nothing,
    when you wake up in the morning,
    and you work for long up to night,
    for of the food you are eating,
    because God gives rest to the people who he loves.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mnajichosha bure kuwahi asubuhi,
    na kuchelewa kulala.
    Mnataabika kutafuta chakula,
    yeye anawapa wapendwa wake usingizi.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “It is also useless to arise very early and go to sleep late at night
    in order that you can work hard all day to earn money to buy food,
    because Yahweh gives food to those whom he loves.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 132:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 132:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I will not allow my eyes to sleep,
    or my eyelids (that) they doze,” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “I will not go to sleep and I also will not rest” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “or sleep” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “I am not going to allow my eyes to sleep,
    there is no sleep inside my eyes,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “macho yangu hayatalala usingizi,
    au kusinzia,” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “I will not sleep at all” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 135:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 135:12:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “and he gave their country as an inheritance,
    an inheritance for his people the Israelites.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “and [He] gave their land to Israel his people
    as [their] property.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “And he gave their land to his people the Israelites in-order-that they will-possess/own (it).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “he gave their nations
    to his people of Israel.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Akachukua nchi yao,
    akawapa watu wake,
    kuwa urithi wa watu wake Israeli.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Then he gave their land to us Israeli people to belong to us forever.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 136:23)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 136:23:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Who remembered us the undermined people,
    for his unchanging love is eternal.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “He remembered us when we were defeated in battle,
    His love endures forever.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “He remembered us (incl.) when our (incl.) situation (was) not good.
    His love (is) without end.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “He remembered us when we were slaves,
    his love remains forever,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ndiye ambaye alitukumbuka katika udhaifu wetu,
    neema yake ni ya milele na milele.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “He is the one who did not forget about us when we were defeated by our enemies;
    his faithful love for us endures forever.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 139:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 139:12:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “nevertheless that darkness will not be darkness to You
    night will shine like afternoon,
    for darkness is like light to You.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “the darkness will not be dark for You,
    and for You the night will shine ablaze like the day,
    for You night and day are exactly the same.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “But even the darkness (is) not dark for you (sing.),
    and the night (is) just as light as the day.
    For darkness and light (are) just the same to you (sing.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “even then you see in the darkness
    the darkness be the same with the day,
    for the darkness is the same as light to you.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “giza nayo haikufichi kitu chochote,
    usiku unamulika kama vile mchana,
    giza na nuru kwako vinafanana tu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “but even if that happened, the darkness would not be darkness for you!
    For you, the night is as bright as the daytime is, because for you, daylight and darkness are not different/the same.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 141:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 141:7:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “They will say, ‘Like how firewood is scattered when it is cut,
    it is also how our bones are scattered on the entrance of the grave.’” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “They will say,
    "Our bones will be scattered hither and thither
    at the side of the grave
    just like clods are broken
    by those who plough a field with a spade."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “They will-say, ‘Our (incl.) bones will-be-scattered in the grave/burial-place like the stones that came-out when the land was-plowed.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “They will say that, ‘Our bones will be scattered in grave,
    it be like when someone cultivates the garden.’” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mifupa yetu itakuja kutawanyika katika mlango wa mahali pa wafu,
    kama vile kuni ambazo wamekatakata, zimetawanyika duniani!” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Like a log that is split and cut into small pieces,
    their shattered bones will be scattered on the ground near other graves.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 144:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 144:10:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “to Him who makes kings successful,
    who saves David his servant from a dangerous sword.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “You cause kings to win,
    You saved your servant David from the sword.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (sing.) (are) the one (who) has-caused- the kings -to-win and saved David your (sing.) servant from death.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “for you give victory to the kings,
    and you helps your servant David, from the sword of death.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ndiwe unawapa wafalme ushindi,
    ambaye unamwokoa Daudi mtumishi wako.
    Kwa upanga mkali” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You enable kings to defeat their enemies;
    and you rescued me, your servant David, from being killed by my enemies’ swords.” (Source: Translation for Translators)