Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 121:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 121:1:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I raise my eyes to the mountains;
    where does my help come from?” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “I will set my eyes toward the mountains,
    Where does my help come from?” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “I look at the mountains/hills;
    where does- my help -come-from?” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “I lift up my eyes to the mountains,
    where does my help come from?” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Nainua macho yangu kutazama milima,
    msaada wangu utatoka wapi?” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “When we travel toward Jerusalem,
    I look up toward the hills and I ask myself, ‘Who will help me?’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 125:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 125:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Jehovah do good to those who are good,
    those who are righteous hearted” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O LORD, Do good to people who are good
    and to those with good hearts.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “LORD, do good to the good people, who live rightly.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD, you do good to people who be good,
    people who be good in their hearts.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee BWANA, uwatendee mema walio wema,
    ambao ni wanyofu katika moyo.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, do good things to those who do good things to others
    and to those who sincerely obey your commands.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 130:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 130:6:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “My life hopes for the Lord,
    more than how the guards hope for the morning.
    yes, more than how the guards hope for the morning.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Like the watchman waiting for the morning,
    more than the watchman waiting for the morning,
    I am waiting for the LORD.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “I wait for you (sing.), LORD, more (than) the guards who wait-(for) the morning.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “My heart waits for the LORD,
    more than the guards who wait for the morning to come,
    more than they wait for the morning to come.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Nafsi yangu inamngojea Bwana,
    kuzidi walinzi ambao wanangojea kuche,
    kuzidi walinzi ambao wanangojea pambazuko asubuhi.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “I wait for Yahweh to help me
    more than watchmen wait for the light to dawn;
    yes, I wait more eagerly than they do!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 135:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 135:3:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Praise Jehovah, for Jehovah is good;
    sing songs of praising his name, for it is pleasant to do so,” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good.
    Sing hymns to His name, for it is pleasant.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Praise the LORD for he (is) good.
    [You (plur.)] sing praise to him for that (is) good to-do.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You (plur.) praise the LORD, for the LORD is good,
    sing the praise of his names with singing of happiness.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Muwe mnamsifu BWANA kwa sababu ni mwema,
    mtukuzeni kwa nyimbo,
    kwa maana jina lake ni jema.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Praise Yahweh, because he does good things for us;
    sing to him, because he is kind to us.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 136:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 136:14:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “And passed Israel in the middle of that lake,
    for his unchanging love is eternal.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “and brought Israel across
    from the middle of the Red Sea.
    His love endures forever.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “And caused- his people -to-cross through the middle of-it.
    His love (is) without end.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “and he brought the people of Israel from its middle,
    his love remains forever,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Akawavusha waisraeli humo,
    neema yake ni ya milele na milele.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “He enabled the Israeli people to walk through it on dry land;
    his faithful love for us endures forever.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 139:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 139:3:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “You watch carefully when I am going out and my sleeping;
    you know all my paths.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “You know the work I have done
    as well as what I have not done,
    You know quite clearly all the work that I do.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You look-(at) me in my working and resting.
    You (sing.) know all my doings.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You see when I go out or I lay down to sleep,
    you see all the ways I go,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Unakujua kutembea na kulala kwangu,
    unayajua matendo yangu yote.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “When I travel and when I lie down, you know everything that I do.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 140:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 140:11:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Do not allow people of insults to be settled in the land;
    let evil follow cruel people.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “May liars not be allowed to prosper in the land.
    May violent people be quickly destroyed.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “May-it-be that the people who slander/makes-up-accusations-to others will- not -stay-a-long-time in the land.
    May-it-be that afflictions/evil/disaster will-reach/come-upon the violent/cruel people/men, who will-destroy them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Do not allow people who insult people to stay well in the land,
    would you give suffering to hunt for the people who beat people anyhow.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ambao wanasengenya wengine, wasistawi katika nchi,
    angamizo liwakute wakatili.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Do not allow those who slander others to succeed;
    cause evil things to happen to violent men and destroy them!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 144:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 144:1:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Let Jehovah my Rock be praised,
    who teaches my hands to do war;
    my fingers to fight a war.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “May the LORD who protects me be praised,
    He teaches my hands and fingers the skill of fighting.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Praise-be to the LORD who (is) my hiding-place/protector/refuge [linker] rock.
    He trains me for war.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You praise the LORD, who is my mountain,
    he teaches me war,
    my hands of war.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Awe anasifiwa BWANA, ni mwamba wangu,
    anaifundisha mikono yangu vita,
    na vidole vyangu kupigana.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “I praise Yahweh, who is like an overhanging rock under which I get refuge/am protected!
    He trains my hands so that I can use them to fight battles;
    he trains my fingers so that I can shoot arrows in a war.” (Source: Translation for Translators)