Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 21:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 21:13:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Be exalted You Jehovah in your power,
    we will sing a song and praise your power.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O LORD!
    For Your great power we will praise You.
    We will sing a hymn praising Your power.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (sing.) are-to-be-praised, LORD, because of your (sing.) strength.
    We (excl.) will-sing praises because of your (sing.) power.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “O God! Because you are very strong, we continually praise your name. Because you have great power/authority, all of us sing praise to you.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD, we praise you, because of your authority which is great.
    We will sing, and praise your power which is great much.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee Bwana, uinuliwe kwa nguvu yako.
    Tutakuwa tunaimba na kuusifu ushindi wako.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, show us that you are very strong!
    When you do that, while we sing we will praise you because you are very powerful.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 23:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 23:1:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Jehovah is my shepherd,
    I will not lack anything.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Chichewa interconfessional translation, 1999:
    “Chauta [see tetragrammaton (YHWH)] he is my herdsman,
    I will surely not lack a [little] thing, not at all.” (Source: Wendland 1998, p. 148f.)
  • Chichewa poetic translation in the traditional ndakatulo genre to encourage oral and musical performances:
    “Herdsman of mine he’s so good-hearted.
    Chauta is that most famous name of his.
    In him, as for me — I lack nothing, not at all.” (Source: Ernst Wendland)
  • Kupsabiny:
    “God is my guard/keeper,
    I do not lack anything.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)(Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Adilabad Gondi:
    “Due to Jehovah God being my shepherd,
    I will not lack anything.” (Source: Adilabad Gondi Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “The LORD is my Shepherd,
    I will not lack anything.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (sing.), LORD, are my shepherd,
    so I will- not -be-lacking (anything).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “God cares me. So I don’t lack anything. He cares for me like a keeper ordinarily cares for his sheep.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The LORD is my shepherd,
    there will be nothing I want.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Bwana ni mchungaji wangu,
    sipungukiwi kitu chochote.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, you care for me like a shepherd cares for his sheep.
    So I have everything that I need.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 24:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 24:6:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “That is the generation of those who seek Jehovah;
    who seek your face, You God of Jacob.
    Selah” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Only such [people] will be able to find you.
    and be able to worship before you,
    O God of Jacob!
    Sela” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “These are the kind of people who go-for-help/take-refuge and worship the God of Jacob.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Only this kind of people can enter into the place of God. These people are able to enter and be before the God whom Jacob worships.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “God of Jacob, people who stay like him,
    they who search for you,
    these people search for your face.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyaneka:
    “The-generation who seek-him like-this will-live,
    those who-adore the-God of-Jacob.” (Source: Christopher S. Tachick in Wendland / Zogbo 2019, p. 84ff.)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ndivyo walivyo ambao wanamtafuta,
    ambao wanakutamani, ee Mungu wa Yakobo.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “They are the ones who approach God, they are the ones who may worship God, the one we Israelis worship.
    (Think about that!)” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 26:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 26:6:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I wash my hands showing my innocence
    and go to serve at your altar of sacrifice, You Jehovah,” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “I wash my hands to show that I have no guilt,
    O LORD! having come to Your altar [and] walked around [it]” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “I wash my hands to-show that I do- not -have sin.
    And then I go-around your (sing.) place-of-offering/altar to-worship you (sing.), LORD,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “O God! I wash my hands as a sign I don’t have any sin. And I walk around your altar worshiping you.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD, I am washing my hands to show that I am innocent
    then I walk to your place of your sacrifice.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee Bwana, nanawa mikono yangu,
    kuonyesha kuwa sina na dhambi,
    na kuizunguka madhabahu yako,” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, I wash my hands to show that I am innocent/have not done what was wrong.
    As I join with others marching around your altar,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 29:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 29:3:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “The voice of Jehovah is above the waters;
    The God of glory roars,
    Jehovah roars above the powerful waters.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “The voice of the LORD echoes over the ocean.
    God, who is very great, cries out like thunder.
    His voice resounds over the ocean.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “The voice of the LORD, the powerful God, can-be-heard over the water.
    It thunders over the mighty sea.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “When God speaks, all the seas hear his voice like thunder that echoes on those seas.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The voice of LORD stays over water,
    the God of glory shout like thunder,
    the LORD shouts over much water.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Bwana yuko katika bahari penye nguvu.
    Mungu mtukufu ananguruma.
    Sauti ya BWANA inaunguruma juu katika bahari.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh’s voice is heard above the oceans; Yahweh, the glorious God, thunders.
    His voice thunders over the huge oceans.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 31:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 31:12:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I was forgotten to them as if I died;
    I am like a broken pot.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Like a person who has already died,
    they have all forgotten me.
    Like a broken pot,
    they have all discarded me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “They now forget me, as-if I (were) dead now.
    For them I (am) like a broken clay-pot which has-no value.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Everybody forgets me as though I am already dead. I am like a clay pot that someone has already thrown away.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “They forgot me as if I died already.
    I became to be like a pot which be broken.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Watu wamenisahau mimi kama vile mtu mfu,
    niko kama vile chungu ambacho kimevunjika.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “People have forgotten me like they forget people who are dead.
    They think I am as useless as a broken pot.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 33:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 33:9:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “For He spoke and (things) into existence;
    He commanded and (things) were established.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “After He spoke, the creation of the world began.
    As soon as they had His order, they all appeared.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “For only when he spoke, the earth was-made.
    He just commanded and everything was-made.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Because he spoke, the earth came into being. And everything exists following the words he spoke.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Because he spoke and it was done as he said.
    He had said, and everything came and stayed.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kwa maana yeye wakati amesema, uweko ulimwengu,
    wakati ameamuru, ukaonekana.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “When he spoke, the world was created/started to exist.
    Everything started to exist as a result of him commanding it.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 34:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 34:19:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “A righteous person may have many problems,
    But Jehovah rescues him from all those problems,” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Many troubles may come to good people,
    but the LORD saves all of them from all trouble.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Even-though the difficulties/troubles of a righteous person/man (are) many the LORD saves him from all of these.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Surely the righteous person meets up with many troubles, but God helps him come out of those troubles.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “A person who does right may have great suffering,
    but instead the LORD, helps him in all those matters.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mateso ya mtu mnyofu mengi,
    lakini BWANA anamwokoa kwa yote.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Righteous people may have many troubles, but Yahweh rescues them from all those troubles.” (Source: Translation for Translators)