Language-specific Insights

one-fifth

The Hebrew that is translated as “one-fifth” in English was difficult to translate in a West African language that had no immediately corresponding concept of fraction, percentage or the like. So the translation that was used was: “Take the full (monetary) value, divide it into five equal piles, and add one more pile.” (See this blog entry )

rows of stones on Aaron's breastpiece

The Hebrew that is translated into a wide and often differing variety of gemstones on Aaron’s breastpiece in English and other translations, was translated with a focus on their colors in a West African language:

Row One: a red stone, a stone the color of the yellow fruit inside the pod of the African locust bean (parkia biglobosa ), and a blue colored stone mixed with the color of fresh growth on trees (green)

Row Two: deep red stone, a blue colored stone, diamond

Row Three: a stone the color of an orange, a stone with many colored stripes, a stone the color of a local purple fruit

Row Four: a stone of deep green color, a stone with splotches of color, and a green stone.

(See this blog entry )

See also jewels in the New Jerusalem.

complete verse (Psalm 1:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 1:2:

  • Chichewa Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero translation, 2002/2016:
    “But his delight is in the laws of Jehovah
    and in his laws he meditates day and night.” (Source: Chichewa Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “But he rejoices in the law of the Lord.
    Night and day he meditates on His law.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Instead, he (is) happy in following the teachings that (come) from the Lord,
    and he meditates on these day-(and)-night.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “But that person, he is very happy/delighted with the law of God only.
    And he spends time thinking about the book of that law all night and all day.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “But, he will rejoice in the Law of Lord,
    and he thinks the Law of Lord day and night.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • West African language:
    If you want to be truly happy, let your belly be sweet on God’s command words.
    Let your mind eat them day and night.” (Source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1983, p. 420ff. )
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Bali sheria za Bwana ndizo ambazo zinampendeza,
    anaziwaza mchana na usiku.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Those whom God is pleased with delight in doing the things that he has instructed/taught us to do.
    They read and think about Yahweh’s requirements, day and night.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 1:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 1:3:

  • Chichewa Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero translation, 2002/2016:
    “He is like a tree planted in the banks of rivers of water,
    which bears its fruits in its season
    and its leaves do not wither.
    Anything that he does he profits from it.” (Source: Chichewa Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “He is like a tree planted on a river bank.
    He always bears fruit at the proper times
    and his leaves never dry up.
    Whatever work he does gets finished.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “He is like a tree planted beside the stream
    that bears-fruit in season of bearing-fruit,
    and (whose) leaves do- not -wither.
    A man like this will-prosper in what he does.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “That person becomes like a tree someone planted near flowing water.
    At the appropriate time, it produces fruit, and its leaves never wither/dry up.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “He is like a tree planted at the bank of river,
    its bears always when its months reach.
    Its leaves do not dry.
    All the good matters he does, stay well.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • West African language:
    “Then you will be like a river-by tree whose leaves the sun cannot kill,
    whose children are always ripe at the right time.
    Then everything you do will finish on a good road.” (Source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1983, p. 420ff. )
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Huyo yuko kama vile mti,
    ambao umepandwa kando katika chemchemi ya maji,
    ambao unazaa matunda katika wakati wake,
    na majani yake hayanyauki.
    Yote ambayo anayafanya yanakuwa ni mema.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “They constantly produce/do things that please God
    just like fruit trees that have been planted along the banks of a stream produce fruit at the right time every year.
    Like trees that never wither,
    they succeed in everything that they do.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 1:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 1:4:

  • Chichewa Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero translation, 2002/2016:
    “It is not (like) that with wicked people!
    They are like chaff
    that is blown away by the wind.” (Source: Chichewa Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “The wicked are not like that.
    They are like chaff.
    The wind blows them away.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “But not like this the wicked people.
    They on-the-other-hand have-no value,
    like chaff that just blows-away by the wind.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “But the wicked person doesn’t produce like that,
    but that person is like chaff that the wind scatters.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The bad people are not like that!
    They are like chaff
    that are carried by the wind and just disappear.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • West African language:
    “Bad people are not like the river-by tree,
    they are like dry (corn) chaff
    which the wind blows away, puff! puff! [=ideophone, i.e. word that expresses what is perceived by the five senses]” (Source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1983, p. 420ff. )
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Lakini waovu hawako kama hivyo.
    Wao wako kama vile makapi ambayo yanapeperushwa na upepo.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “But wicked people are not like that!
    Wicked people are as worthless as chaff
    that is blown away by the wind.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 1:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 1:5:

  • Chichewa Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero translation, 2002/2016:
    “So wicked people will not be able to stand in judgment,
    or sinful people in the assembly of righteous people.” (Source: Chichewa Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “So at the time of judgment
    the wicked will be punished.
    And sinners will not be able to remain
    in the assembly of the righteous.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “So on the day of judgment, they will-be-punished by God
    and they will- not -be-joined-in with the righteous-ones.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Arriving at the day God judges the wicked people,
    on that day God will sort out those wicked people from the straight good/righteous people.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Therefore, God will judge the people who do bad matter,
    and the sinners will not stay together in one place with good people.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • West African language:
    “That is why God will hit them when he judges all people,
    he will not let them share with those who are at his back.” (Source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1983, p. 420ff. )
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kwa hiyo waliopotoka hawatakuja kupona kuhukumiwa,
    watenda dhambi hawatakuja kuwamo katika kundi la wanyofu. ” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Therefore, wicked people will not be acquitted/will be condemned when God judges people,
    and furthermore, sinful people will not even be present when God gathers righteous people together,” (Source: Translation for Translators)