Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 39:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 39:9:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I was quiet; I did not open my mouth
    for You are the one who has done this.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “I will remain silent, I will not utter even a single sound.
    For it is You who have done this to me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “I will- just -be-silent; I will- no -longer-complain,
    for you (sing.) (are) the one-who-causes- me -to-suffer.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Now I am dumb, I don’t speak, because you have made it so I must continually suffer like this.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “I was quiet, and I would not even open my mouth,
    because you are the one who did to me this matter.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Niko kimya, sisemi neno lolote,
    kwa maana adhabu hii imetoka kwako.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “I did not say anything when you punished me, because I knew that you were the one who caused me to suffer.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 41:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 41:11:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I know that you are being pleased with me,
    for my enemy will not defeat me.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “I know that You have been pleased with me,
    for You have not allowed them to defeat me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Then I will-know that you (sing.) (are) pleased with me, for my enemies were- not -able-to-triumph-over me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “I already know that you are in agreement with me, because those who hate me are not able to say they have overcome me.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “I know that you are happy with me,
    because my enemy does not defeat me.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ninajua kuwa unapendezwa na mimi,
    kwa sababu adui yangu hanishindi.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “If you enable me to do that, with the result that my enemies do not defeat me,
    I will know that you are pleased with me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 44:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 44:14:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “You have caused that we should be despised among the people of other races;
    people shake their heads when they see us.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “You have made us like clowns among the nations.
    When people see us, scoffing, they shake their heads.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “They have sayings/bywords which insult us (excl.),
    and they shake-(their)-heads-right-and-left mocking us (excl.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “You have allowed them to step on us disrespectfully by way of what they say. So those many people, they shake their heads scorning us.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You allowed nations to laughed at us,
    then they shook their heads.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Umetufanya kuabishwa na watu wa katika makabila mengine,
    wanatikisa vichwa vyao.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “They make jokes using the name of our country,
    they shake their heads to indicate that they despise us.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 46:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 46:3:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “even if its water roar and foam,
    even if the mountains shake with its roaring.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Even if the oceans roar
    even if foam rises
    even if the mountains tremble from the huge waves
    we will not fear.
    Sela” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “or even-if the sea roars/rushes and the waves make-a-loud-noise/thud, and because of this the mountains quake.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “even though its water rumble and foams
    and the water shakes the mountains.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “hata kama maji ya katika bahari yanavuma na kuumuka,
    na mawimbi makali yanatikisa milima.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “and if the water in the sea roars and foams, and the hills shake violently, we will not be afraid!
    (Think about that!)” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 49:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 49:1:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Hear this people of all races;
    listen, all you who stay in the whole earth,” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Listen! all [you] people,
    Give ear all [you] people of the world!” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “[You (plur.)] listen, all you (plur.) people who dwell here on earth,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “All people hear this word,
    listen you people who are staying here on earth,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Enyi wa katika makabila yote, sikieni haya,
    wote enyi watu wa duniani, sikilizeni.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You people of all ethnic groups, listen!
    You people all over the world,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 50:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 50:13:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Do I eat the meat of the male cows
    or drink the blood of goats?” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “What! Do I eat the meat of bulls?
    or do [I] drink the blood of goats?” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Do- I -eat meat of bull(s)/[lit. bull cow] or drink the blood of goat(s)? Of-course/Certainly not.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You think that I am eating the meat of bulls,
    or drinking the blood of goats?” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Je, unasema nakula nyama ya ng’ombe?
    Je, unasema nakunywa damu ya mbuzi?” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “I do not eat the flesh of the bulls that you sacrifice,
    and I do not drink the blood of the goats that you offer to me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 52:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 52:3:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “You love evil (thing) instead of speaking the truth.
    You love to lie more than speaking truthful (things).
    Selah” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “You keep on loving evil more than good.
    You keep on loving falsehood more than truth.
    Sela” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (plur.) love evil rather-than good,
    and lies rather-than truth.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You love sin more than goodness,
    and you love a lie more than matter which be true.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Unaupenda ubaya kuzidi uzuri,
    kusema ya uongo kuzidi ukweli.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You like doing what is evil more than you like doing what is good,
    and you like telling lies more than you like telling the truth.
    (Think about that!)” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 55:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 55:13:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “But you my friend, a travelling companion,
    my best friend, you are the one doing these.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “[But] it is you,
    my equal,
    my friend,
    my friend and closest kin.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “But my fellowman/countryman, companion himself, and close friend (are) the-(ones-who) are-insulting me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Instead you are a person who is like me,
    my friend, friend of my heart,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Lakini kumbe ni wewe, ee mwenzangu,
    wewe rafiki yangu, ambaye tuko marafiki sana.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “But it is someone who is just like me, my companion,
    someone who was my friend who is doing this to me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)