Language-specific Insights

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)

complete verse (Psalm 145:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 145:18:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Jehovah is near all who call him,
    all who call Him in truth.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “The LORD is near (Lit.: before) all those who worship Him.
    He is near (Lit.: before) all those who worship Him
    from their inmost heart.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (are) close/near, LORD, to all who call you sincerely.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The LORD is near to all people who pray to him,
    people who pray to him truly in their hearts.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “BWANA yuko karibu kwa wote ambao wanamwita,
    wote ambao wanamwita katika ukweli.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh comes near to/is ready to help all those who call out to him,
    to those who call to him sincerely.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 147:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 147:19:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “He revealed his words to Jacob,
    his laws and his teachings to Israel.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “He told His commands to Jacob,
    and His decrees and rules to Israel.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “He revealed his words, decrees/[lit. what-is-to-be-followed], and commands to those (who) come-from-Israel who (are) the descendants of Jacob.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “He showed his word to people Jacob,
    he showed his laws and his words to the people of Israel.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Analitangaza neno lake kwa wa jamaa ya Yakobo,
    sheria zake na mafundisho yake kwa Wana israeli.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “He sent his message to the descendants of Jacob;
    he tells to his Israeli people the laws and regulations that he had decreed.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

hand drum / frame drum

The musical instrument that is most often translated as “tambourine,” “timbrel,” or “drum” in English is translated in the following ways:

In the UBS Helps for Translators‘ Human-made Things in the Bible (original title: The Works of Their Hands: Man-made Things in the Bible) it says the following:

The drum consisted of a membrane, usually of animal skin, which was stretched over a shallow circular, triangular, or square frame.

The drum was struck sharply with one or two hands, depending on where it was situated. It could be held in the left hand, under the left arm, or against the chest and struck with the right hand, or it could be held on the knees or the ground and struck with one or two hands. The fingers of the left hand could be used to tighten or loosen the tension on the membrane as it was struck with the palm of the right hand.

The use of the Hebrew word tof is usually associated with singing, processions, and festivals. Archaeological evidence indicates that drums with metal circlets on the frame (“tambourines” or “timbrels”) were not known in biblical times. As a general rule, the best translation for this word will be “hand drum” or simply “drum.”

Lyre (source: Knowles, revised by Bass (c) British and Foreign Bible Society 1994)

Quoted with permission.

complete verse (Psalm 2:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 2:4:

  • Chichewa Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero translation, 2002/2016:
    “The one sitting on high is laughing;
    The Lord is scorning them.” (Source: Chichewa Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “The one on the throne in heaven will laugh,
    The LORD will not even be concerned about them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “But the Lord who sits on his throne there in heaven just laughs and loathes/mocks them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “But God, who lives in the sky, he laughs at them and mocks them.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “And LORD who is sitting down on chair in heaven, mocks at them,
    and he is just playing with them.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ambaye anakaa mbinguni anacheka,
    Bwana anawadharau.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “But Yahweh, the one who sits on his throne in heaven, laughs at them;
    he ridicules those rulers.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 5:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 5:8:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Guide me You Jehovah, by your righteousness
    because of my enemies and
    straighten your path before me.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O LORD! Lead me into the good way.
    Make Your way straight before me.
    Otherwise my enemies will defeat me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “LORD, because my enemies (are) many,
    guide/lead me according-to your (sing.) righteousness,
    and make my following your (sing.) ways easy.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Oh God the straight good (righteous) God, there are many people who hate me (are my enemies). I request that you lead me to follow your straight good road.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD lead me in your goodness,
    because of my enemies.
    Let your way to be seen, so that I follow.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee BWANA, uniongoze katika unyofu wako,
    kwa maana maadui zangu wengi.
    Uinyooshe njia yako mbele yangu,” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, because you act righteously toward me,
    show me what is right for me to do.
    Because I have many enemies, show me clearly what you want me to do.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 8:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 8:1:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “You Jehovah our Lord,
    your name is indeed powerful in the whole earth!
    You have established your glory
    in all the heavenly worlds.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “O LORD, my Lord.
    How great is Your name in the whole world.
    Your glory has reached the heavens.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “LORD our (excl.) Master, how great/praiseworthy you (sing.) (are) in the whole world!
    The praise to you (sing.) by the people you (sing.) can-hear (it) there in heaven.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Oh God who is our Lord! The good and great authority about your name spreads all over this earth. Voices singing praise to you rise arriving in the sky.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “LORD, our Lord,
    Your name are glorify in all land!
    Your praise reaches heaven.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee BWANA, ee Bwana wetu,
    jina lako tukufu limeenea duniani poote!
    Utukufu wako umeenea mpaka mbinguni.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Yahweh, our Lord, people all over the world know that you are very great!
    Your glory reaches up higher than the heavens!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 10:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 10:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “In his pride the wicked does not seek God;
    in all his thought there is no space for God.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “In their pride the wicked do not search for the LORD.
    In their thoughts there is no one called God.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Because of the boasting of those who (are) wicked, they do- not -take-refuge-in/plead-for-help-from you (sing.).
    They do- not at-all/[emphasis marker] -think about you (sing.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Wicked people, they raise up themselves and don’t want to listen to the words of God. And they say this: "God isn’t real at all."” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Because of his pride, a bad person does not want the Lord.
    In his all thinking, he does not think about God.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mtenda dhambi kwa kiburi chake hamtafuti Mungu,
    katika mawazo yake anasema, ‘Hakuna Mungu.’” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Wicked people are very proud.
    As a result, they do not seek help from/are not concerned about God;
    they do not even think that God exists.” (Source: Translation for Translators)