Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 148:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 148:5:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Let everything praise the name of Jehovah
    for He commanded and they were created.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “May they praise the name of the LORD,
    for it was by His command that they were created.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Let- all of them -praise the LORD!
    For at his command, they were- all -created.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The LORD gives all things to exalt his names,
    for they were made by his commands.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Vyote vilisifu jina la BWANA,
    kwa maana viliumbwa kwa amri yake.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “I want all of these to praise Yahweh because by commanding them to exist, he created them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 1:1)

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

  • Chichewa Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero translation, 2002/2016:
    “Blessed (is) a person.
    who does not follow the counsel of sinful people,
    or stand in the path of wicked people,
    or sit in the groups of scornful people.” (Source: Chichewa Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Blessed is the person
    who does not follow evil people,
    who does not follow the path of sinners,
    who does not go along with those
    who keep on belittling others.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Blessed is the man/person who does- not -live in the guidance/advice of the wicked people,
    does- not -follow what the sinners do,
    and does- not -join-with the people who mock/ridicule.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Whatever person does not follow the teaching of the evil person,
    or does not do according to what the sinner does, or does not follow/imitate those
    those who customarily mock God, surely that person receives blessing.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Blessed be the person
    who does not follow the instructions of bad people,
    or who does not follow the way of sinners,
    or does not stay with people who mock God.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • West African language:
    “If you want to be truly happy do not hear the advice of bad people,
    do not walk in the feet of those who refuse God?
    Do not live in the compound of those who spoil God’s name.” (Source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1983, p. 420ff. )
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Amebarikiwa ambaye hayafuati maneno ya waovu,
    ambaye haendi katika njia za watenda dhambi,
    ambaye hakai katika ambao wanadharau.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “God is pleased with those who do not do what wicked people advise them to do,
    and who do not imitate the behavior of sinful people,
    and who do not join in with people who ridicule/sneer at God.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 5:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 5:3:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “In the morning, Jehovah you hear my voice;
    In the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait hopefully.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O LORD! In the morning You hear my voice.
    Morning by morning I will pray to You,
    and wait for an answer.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “At dawn I prepare myself/[lit. my own self] to-pray to you (sing.).
    And after I pray I wait for your (sing.) answer.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “In the light of morning you surely hear my voice praying. And I hopefully await your response.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD you hear my voice in morning,
    I pray for you in the morning
    and I wait for your answer.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee BWANA, asubuhi unasikia sauti yangu,
    asubuhi naomba kwako,
    nasubiri unijibu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Listen to me when I pray to you each morning, and I wait for you to reply.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 7:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 7:13:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “God has prepared his dangerous weapons;
    He has prepared his burning arrows.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “He will take His dreadful weapons.
    He will lift His burning arrows [ready to shoot].” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “If they do- not -repent from their sins you (sing.) (are) ready to-punish them.
    (It) seems/is-as-if you (sing.) (are) like a soldier whose deadly/[lit. able-to-kill] weapons-of-war (are) now ready.
    He has- already -sharpened his sword and he is- now -stretching-out the bow which has flaming/blazing arrows.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “God prepares his weapons, including fiery arrows.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “He prepare for things of war
    and prepare his arrows which the fire lights.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Anaandaa silaha zake zinazoua,
    anaandaa mishale ya moto.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You are preparing your weapons that kill those whom they strike;
    the arrows that you will shoot have flaming tips.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 9:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 9:19:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Awake You Jehovah, do not let a human to succeed;
    all the races should be judged before your eyes.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O LORD, come.
    May [mortal] humans not win.
    May the nations be judged in Your presence.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Go-on now LORD, do- not -permit that the ability of the people to-supersede.
    Judge the nations in your (sing.) presence.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Oh God, request you come quickly! Don’t allow wicked people to overcome you. Request that you judge all people who don’t believe before your eyes (in your presence).” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD, get up, do not allow someone to refuse you.
    Let matters of people of the earth to be judge in your present.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee BWANA, simama, usiwaache watu kushinda,
    nchi zihukumiwe mbele yako.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, arise and judge the wicked people of the nations;
    do not allow them to think that because they are strong they will never be punished.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 12:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 12:6:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “And the words of Jehovah are perfect
    like silver refined in an earthen furnace,
    refined seven times.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “The Word of the LORD is as pure as silver heated in the fire seven times.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “The promises of the LORD can- really -be-trusted.
    This (is) like silver that can- truly/[emphasis marker] -be-trusted to-be-pure
    because (it) is-refined/purified in the fire seven times.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “The words that God promises to people are surely right and very straight, like silver that someone casts into the fire seven times in order to make it pure (white good).” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “There is no sin in matters of LORD,
    they stay like silver that is heated at the place of the blacksmith,
    seven times to be fine.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Neno la BWANA ni la kutumainiwa,
    liko kama fedha ambayo imechomwa katika tanuri,
    ili iwe kamilifu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, you always do what you have promised to do;
    what you have promised is as precious and pure as silver
    that has been heated seven times in a furnace to get rid of all the impure material.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 17:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 17:1:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Hear You Jehovah my prayer of justice;
    listen to my cry.
    Pay attention to hear my prayer
    since it is not coming from a deceitful mouth.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O LORD! Listen to my request which I have make for justice.
    Give attention to my prayer.
    Hear the prayer which I make from a good heart!” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Listen, LORD, to my asking-for justice.
    Listen to my sincere prayer.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Oh God! Request you listen to me. Request that you listen to my voice calling out to you. I pray from a very right heart requesting from you.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Makayyioit, you hear my pleading for the matter which be right/just,
    hear the matter I am crying for.
    hear my prayer,
    because my mouth does not speaks lies.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee Bwana, usikilize maneno yangu ya haki,
    usikilize kilio changu, unisaidie.
    Mimi sio mdanganyifu,
    usikilize sala yangu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, listen to me while I plead with you to act justly toward me.
    Hear me while I call out to you to help me.
    Pay attention to what I say while I pray
    because I am speaking honestly/truthfully.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 18:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 18:18:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Those enemies contended with me when I was in problems,
    but Jehovah was my help.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “At a difficult time for me they came to attack me
    but the LORD saved me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “They attacked me when I (was) in-difficulty/trouble
    but you (sing.) defended me, LORD.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “When I meet difficulties from people who want to harm me, surely God constantly protects me.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “They beat me when I was in trouble
    but instead, the LORD helped me.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Wakati niko katika shida, walikuja kupigana na mimi,
    lakini BWANA alikuwa ni ngao yangu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “When I was distressed/had troubles, they attacked me,
    but Yahweh defended/protected me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)