complete verse (Ruth 3:14 - 3:15)

Following are a number of back-translations of Ruth 3:14-15:

  • Noongar: “So Ruth lay beside Boaz’ feet until sunrise. Ruth got up before people could see her. Boaz said to her, ‘People must not know you came to this place.’ Then Boaz said, ‘Give me your shawl.’ Ruth gave him her shawl. Boaz poured six dishes of wheat into the shawl, and lifted the wheat onto Ruth’s back. Then Boaz went home to Bethlehem.” (Source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)
  • Eastern Bru: “Then Ruth slept near to Boaz’s feet until morning. She rose very early while it was still dark, before anyone could recognize anyone. And Boaz told Ruth: ‘Don’t let anyone know you have come to my rice floor here.’ And Boaz said: ‘You take the cloth you are wearing and bring it here.’ When Ruth brought the cloth, Boaz measured into it six measures of grain and helped her put it on her shoulder. After that Ruth took the grain and went back to the town.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So Ruth slept at the feet-side of Boaz until morning, but (while it was) still a-bit-dark Ruth got-up so-that she would- not -be-recognized, because Boaz does- not -want that someone-will-know that Ruth came to him there at the place-of-threshing. Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Bring here to me the cloak-for-the-back/cape you(sg) are-wearing and spread-it-out.’ Ruth spread- it -out, and then Boaz poured-into-it about six kilos of barley and had- Ruth -carry-(it)-on-(her)-shoulder. And Ruth returned to town.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So she lay at his feet until morning. But she got up and left before it was light enough that people would be able to recognize her, because Boaz said, ‘I do not want anyone to know that a woman was here.’ He also said to her, ‘Bring to me your cloak and spread it out.’ When she did that, he poured into it six measures/24 liters/50 pounds of barley, and put in on her back. Then he (OR, she) went back to the town.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (John 1:14)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 1:14:

  • Aguaruna: “That word, when he arrived here, was born a human being, and in this way he lived with us. That completely good person was a speaker of the truth. And also we came to know his greatness because his Father, God, had said to his only Son, ‘You are great.'”
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “The Person who is the Word was born human and he was with us. He loved mankind very much and he taught mankind all the true words of God. We saw him and we realized that he is the Person of greatest worth because he is the only Son of our Father God.”
  • Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “And the One who is called Word, he became a Person, and he lived in our midst. And we saw how he had power. That power is that of the only Son of Father God. He is very kind and merciful and all which he says it is true.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
  • Uma: “That Word, he became man[kind], and he lived among us (incl.). We (excl.) saw his power. That power of his he received from his Father, for He is the Only Child. [It is] from him that we know God and his grace [lit., white insides] to us.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then, the Word appeared/was-born here in the world having a human body and living among mankind. All love and truth was there with him. We (excl.) were-able to see his power and his brightness, and this his power and brightness were fitting for him for he is the only Son of God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And the one called the Word of God became human and joined himself to us. He is very gracious and his words are very true. We saw his great high rank which is the high rank of the only child of God. And as for that high rank of his, it was given to him by his Father God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The Word, he became a person and stayed-with us (excl.). He was consistently-compassionate and what he said was all true. We (excl.) saw his godhood which was the godhood of the only Child of God who came-from his Father.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “This Jesus who is called Word, he became a human and then lived here in the world together-with us. His praiseworthiness/glory was experienced by our (excl.) eyes, this glory of his being the glory of the one-and-only Son/child of God the Father. We (excl.) also comprehended the big-size of his grace/mercy and that everything which he revealed/came-out-with is indeed truth.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “He who makes known how God is became a person. He lived here where we live. We saw that he is the greatest. He is the greatest because he is God’s only son. He spoke only what is true and he loves the people without limit.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “That which is-being-called the Word was-born and dwelt/joined-with us (incl.) here. We (excl.) have-seen his high-position as the only Child of the Father. He is very [intensifier] merciful and what he is-telling is pure truth.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Mairasi: “This Message lived as a person, and He lived among us and we saw the height of His shining Glory. This person is the only Child of Our Father, He Himself has good insides and gave us goodness which is tuberfully correct.” (Source: Enggavoter 2004)
  • Bariai: “And the Talk became human, and so he came living in our (excl.) midst. And so we saw his light and his great power, it’s the light of the one child whose Father sent him to come. He was full of the action/practice of a soft interior and true talk.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Kupsabiny: “That word became a person, it came to live with us and we saw his greatness. That greatness is what a son who is only one, gets from where the father is. He loved people completely and brought the word of truth.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Anindilyakwa: “And that same one who revealed God who was hidden from us, he became a human being like us. He was born, he had flesh and bones and then he lived here and went around with us people. He is rich in love, he was very kind and he kept on and on speaking the truth. We saw that he was the leading powerful and beautiful one, the one who was his Father’s one and only Son, the one who came from his Father to here.” (Source: Julie Waddy in The Bible Translator 2004, p. 452ff.)

complete verse (Ruth 2:10 - 2:13)

Following are a number of back-translations of Ruth 2:10-2:13:

  • Noongar: “So Ruth fell on her face and said to him, ‘What good did I do that you saw me and are merciful to me? I am a stranger.’ But Boaz replied, ‘Many people have told me everything you have done for your mother-in-law after your husband died. You left your father and mother and your heart land and came here, to a people you don’t know. May God bless you. May the God of Israel give you everything good because you come to shelter under his wings.’ Then Ruth said, ‘My lord, may I always be good in your eyes. I am not your worker, I am not like your young women, but you are good to me and speak gently to me.’” (Source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)
  • Eastern Bru: “After Boaz said this, then Ruth bent down and bowed her knees in front for Boaz. And Ruth said: ‘You don’t have any responsibility toward me, so why should help me like this. I am a person from another country, so why do you still help me very much.’ But Boaz answered her: ‘I have heard already the good things you have done for your mother-in-law from the time that your husband died. And I know that you left your mother and father and the country of your birth. So you came to live with other people, people you did not know. All of these good thing you did, I ask God to give you every blessing. This God is the God of Israel. And you have believed him also. So now it is as though you were under the wing of God.’After that Ruth answered: ‘O sir! Please let me be favored in your sight. You have comforted my heart. And you have spoken well toward me as though I were one of your own servants. Even though I am not one of you servants.’” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Ruth knelt to Boaz as (a) respect and said, ‘Why are you(sg) so very kind to me wherein I am actually/as-a-matter-of-fact just a foreigner?’ Boaz replied, ‘Someone(s) has told me (about) all that you(sg) have-done for your(sg) mother-in-law since the death of your(sg) husband, how you(sg) left your(sg) father and mother and the place where you(sg) were born in-order to live with the people whom you(sg) did- not -know. So may the LORD repay you(sg) for what you(sg) have-done. May you(sg) receive a big reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, whom you(sg) seek-refuge.’ Ruth said, ‘You(sg) are very kind/nice to me, sir, for you(sg) pleased me and have-spoken kindly even-though I am not one of your(sg) servants.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When he said that, she knelt down in front of him in respect, with her face touching the ground. She exclaimed, ‘Why are you acting so kindly toward me, by paying attention to me? I am not even a Jew; I am a foreigner!’ Boaz replied, ‘People have told me all about what you have done for your mother-in-law. They told me that you left your parents and your homeland, and you came here to live among people whom you did not know before. I hope/desire that Yahweh will repay you for what you have done. You have put yourself in the care of Yahweh, like a little bird puts itself under its mother’s wings. I desire that he will reward you very greatly.’ She replied, ‘Sir, I hope you will continue to act kindly toward me. You have comforted/encouraged me, even though I am lower in status than any of your servant girls.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Ruth 4:1 - 4:6)

Following are a number of back-translations of Ruth 4:1-6:

  • Noongar: “So Boaz went to the gate of Bethlehem and sat there. When the other right-way man was passing by, the one whom Boaz told Ruth, Boaz said to him, ‘Come here, brother, sit here.’ So this man came and sat. Then Boaz called ten men of Bethlehem, saying, ‘Sit here.’ So they sat. Then Boaz said to this other right-way man, ‘Naomi has returned from Moab. She wants to sell the land of our brother Elimelech. I know I must tell you, ‘Take this land yourself, in front of the men sitting here and in front of our elders’. If you want this land, buy it for yourself. But if you don’t want this land, tell me so I know. No man can take this land, only you, and I am after you.’ So the man said, ‘I will take this land.’ So Boaz said, ‘The day you take this land, you also take Ruth of Moab, widow of the dead man, so the name of the dead sits with his land.’ Quickly, the other right-way man said, ‘I cannot take this land for myself, because after I must divide all my land with Ruth. You buy this land for yourself, because I can’t!’” (Source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)
  • Eastern Bru: “Boaz went to the place where discussions were held near the gate of the town. In that place he met his kinsman who was of Ruth’s clan but closer than he. He called his kinsman and said: ‘Older brother! Sit here a while. I want to discuss something with you for a bit.’ So they sat together.And Boaz asked ten leaders of the town to come and hear what the two of them were discussing. So the ten leaders came and sat there also. Boaz told his kinsman: ‘Naomi has left the country of Moab already. Now she is wanting to sell a piece of ground belonging to Elimelec, our older brother. So I want to discuss this with you now. If you want to buy this land, then you say so in front of these leaders and other people from the town so they can hear. If you want to buy the land, then you buy it, because you are of Naomi’s clan closer than I am. But if you do not want it, then tell me, so that I will know clearly, because only the two of us can buy this land.’ Then the kinsman said to Boaz: ‘Surely I will buy the land.’Then Boaz said: ‘But if you want do buy this land of Naomi’s, you must also take Ruth to be your wife. Ruth is a Moabite, the wife of our kinsman who has died. So you must take the place of our kinsman and raise up children who can carry on his name and take over his inheritance.’Then the kinsman of Boaz answered: ‘If it is like that, I don’t want to buy the land, because I am afraid I would have to divide my inheritance with her children also. So you can take my place and buy the land, because I do not want to take that woman.’” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Now, Boaz went to the town’s gate and sat there. When the much closer relative of Elimelec that Boaz had-mentioned/had-referred-to passed-by, Boaz said to him, ‘Come-over-here for-a-while friend and sit-down.’ So the man came-over and sat-down. Then Boaz caused-to-gather the ten rulers of the town and had- them -sit there. And when they had-sat-down, Boaz said to his relative, ‘Noemi has- now -come-back from Moab, and she wants to sell the land of our(incl) relative Elimelec. I thought I should-tell this-(matter) to you(sg). So, if you(sg) want, buy it in the presence of the rulers of my fellow-countrymen and of others who-are-sitting here. But if you(sg) do- not -want, just say so, so-that I will-know. The truth is, you(sg) are the first-one that has the responsibility to buy it, and I am just next (in-line).’ The man said, ‘Okay, I will-buy it.’ But Boaz said, ‘On the day you(sg) buy the land from Noemi, you(sg) must also marry the Moabnon widow Ruth, so-that if you(pl) have now a child, the land will-remain in the family of our(incl) dead relative.’ When the man heard it, he said, ‘If that-is-the-case I will- no-longer -buy the land because I might have-problem with my own land because including our(excl) child to-be with Ruth (will)- now -have a share with my land. You(sg) just buy (it) because I can- not -do it.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Meanwhile, Boaz went up to the town gate and sat there. That was the place where people met together to decide important matters. When the man that Boaz had mentioned came there, the close relative of Ruth and Naomi’s dead husbands who had a responsibility to take care of Naomi and Ruth, Boaz said to him, ‘My friend, come over here and sit down.’ So the man went and sat down. Boaz then gathered ten of the elders of the town and asked them to sit down there also. After they sat down, he said to the man who had the responsibility to take care of Naomi, ‘Naomi has returned from Moab region. She wants to sell the field that belonged to our relative Elimelech. I thought that I should tell you about that, and suggest that you buy it, while these elders who are sitting here are listening. If you are willing to buy the property, do that. But if you do not want to buy it, tell me, so that I will know. I am suggesting this to you because you are the one who has the first right to buy it, and I am the one who has the second/next right to buy it.’ The man replied, ‘I will buy it!’ Then Boaz told him, ‘When you buy the land from Naomi, you will also be taking Ruth, the woman who is from Moab, to be your wife, in order that she may give birth to a son who will inherit the property of her dead husband.’ Then the close relative of Ruth’s dead husband said, ‘If that is so, I do not want to buy the field, because then my own children would not inherit the property; Ruth’s children would inherit it. You buy the property!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Ruth 2:14)

Following are a number of back-translations of Ruth 2:14:

  • Noongar: “When the people were eating, Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Come here. Eat, and dip your bread in the vinegar.’ So Ruth sat by the wheat workers and Boaz handed her the bread the workers had cooked. She ate well, belly full, and some bread was left over.” (Source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)
  • Eastern Bru: “When they were eating, Boaz said to Ruth: ‘You take rice/bread and dip it into the sauce here.’ So Ruth ate and was filled, an she kept back some of it.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When (it was) now time to eat, Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Come, you(sg) get some food and dip (it) in the vinegar.’ Therefore Ruth sat-down together with the harvesters, and Boaz handed her some roasted grain. She ate until she was full, and she still had some-left-over.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “At mealtime, Boaz said to her, ‘Come over here. Take some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar and eat it.’ Then when she sat down with the men who had been harvesting, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all the grain she wanted, and had some left over.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Ruth 4:7 - 4:10)

Following are a number of back-translations of Ruth 4:7-10:

  • Noongar: “Long ago, when the people of Israel divided land, one man must take off his shoe and give it to the other man. So the other right-way man said to Boaz, ‘Take this land yourself,’ and he took off his shoe. And Boaz said to all the people, ‘This day, you become my witnesses. I take from the hands of Naomi, all the land of Elimelech and Chilion and Mahlon. I also take Ruth of Moab, widow of Mahlon, to become my wife, so the name of the dead man stays with his land, so his name will not be lost to his people and will not be forgotten in this place. This day you become my witnesses.” (Source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)
  • Eastern Bru: “Before in the country of Israel, the custom was this: if someone wanted to exchange things or wanted to agree about the inheritance of a kinsman who had died, then that person would give a sign. The sign was to take off one shoe and give it to the person who owned that thing or that inheritance. So the kinsman of Boaz said to Boaz: ‘Now you buy the inheritance for yourself.’ After that the kinsman took of one shoe and gave it to Boaz.And Boaz told the leader and all the people: ‘This day you have heard, I will buy from Naomi all the inheritance of Elimelech and his sons Kilion and Mahlon. And I will take also Ruth, the Moabitess, to be my wife. Before she was the wife of Mahlon who died. Now I will take her to be my wife so that she may have a son to carry on the name of her former husband. So then the inheritance of her former husband will remain in the village and in his clan. This day you have heard these things with me.’” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “That time in Israel, to make-sure/ensure the buying/purchase of the land or the transferring of the rights to buy the land, a man will-take-off his sandal and give-(it) to the other-(party/one). This is what-is-being-done in Israel to prove/attest that the transaction is now sure/certain. So when the man said to Boaz, ‘You(sg) just buy the land,’ he then took-off one of his sandals and gave-(it) to Boaz. Then Boaz said to the rulers of the town and to all the people there, ‘You(pl) are witnesses today that I will-buy now from Noemi all the lands of Elimelec, which were-inherited by Kilion and Mahlon. And one more (thing), I will-marry Ruth the Moabnon, the widow of Mahlon, so-that if we(incl) have now a child, the land of Mahlon will-remain to his family. And so-that his descendants will- not -disappear from his fellow-countrymen.’ Then Boaz said to the people, ’You(pl) are witnesses today!’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “At that time, it was the custom in Israel, when a person bought property that belonged to another person, that the man who was selling the property would take off one of his sandals and give it to the one who was buying the property. That was the way they finalized sales in Israel. So that close relative said to Boaz, ‘You buy the field yourself!’ And he took off one of his sandals and gave it to Boaz. Then Boaz said to the elders and all the other people who were there, ‘Today you have all seen that I have bought from Naomi all the property that belonged to her dead husband Elimelech and his dead sons Mahlon and Chilion. I am also taking Ruth, the woman from Moab, Mahlon’s widow, to be my wife, in order that she may give birth to a son who will inherit the property of the dead man. In that way, Elimelech’s name will continue among the members of his family and among all the people of this town. Today you all are witnesses of what I have done.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Ruth 2:15 - 2:17)

Following are a number of back-translations of Ruth 2:15-17:

  • Noongar: “When Ruth stood up to gather more wheat, Boaz said to his young men, ‘You let her gather wheat between the bundles of wheat. Do not shame her. You must pull out more wheat for her, and drop the wheat for her and not tell her off.’ Ruth gathered the seeds in the wheat-field until evening, then she beat what she had gathered, and she got a full dish of wheat.” (Source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)
  • Eastern Bru: “When Ruth got up to go glean again, Boaz said to the men who worked for him: ‘Let this young woman glean in the places where the bundles are. And don’t say anything to her. And you drop two or three stalks and leave them for her to pick up. And don’t say anything at all to her.’ So Ruth gleaned in the field until late afternoon. Then in the evening she beat the heads of grain and had a large basket full of unhusked grain.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When Ruth now got-up to glean again the heads-of-grain, Boaz commanded his men, ‘Even if Ruth gleans among the bundles of heads-of-grain/(sheaves), you(pl) do- not -put- her -to-shame. You(pl) should- even -take-out some heads-of-grain for her from the bundles and leave (them) for her, and you(pl) do- not -rebuke/scold her.’ So Ruth gleaned heads-of-grain until the sun set. And when she had- already -threshed the barley which she had-gathered, these were about half a sack. ” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “As she stood up to start gathering grain again, Boaz ordered his workers, ‘Even if she gathers some grain near the bundles of grain that have been cut, do not scold her. Instead, pull out some stalks of grain from the bundles, and leave them on the ground for her to pick up, and do not rebuke her.’ So Ruth gathered grain in the field until evening. Then she threshed/beat with a stick the barley that she had gathered, to separate the kernels from the stalks, and the barley filled a large basket.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Ruth 4:11 - 4:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of Ruth 4:11-12:

  • Noongar: “Then all the elders and all the people sitting at the gate, they said, ‘We are witnesses, May God bless this woman who is going into your home, so she will become like Rachel and Leah who together raised the people of Israel. God will give you fame in Ephratha and give you a big name in Bethlehem. God will give you many children with this young woman, the Lord will bless you and this young woman so your family will become like the family of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.’” (Source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)
  • Eastern Bru: “Then all the leaders and the other people in that place said: ‘Surely we have heard all these things. And we ask that God make this woman, who will become your wife, to have many offspring like Rachel and Leah. Rachel and Leah are the female ancestors of all of Israel. And we pray that you will have wealth in Ephrathah and become a great leader in the city of Behlehem also. And we ask that God will allow you and this woman to have many offspring like Perez. Perez was our ancestor long ago. The father of Perez was Juda, and his mother was Tamar.’” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The rulers of the town and all the people there at the gate replied, ‘Yes, we(excl) are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman-whom- you(sg) -will-marry (be) like Raquel and Lea who bore children, who became the people of Israel. May you(sg) become-rich in Efrata and become famous in Betlehem. May the children that the LORD will-give you(sg) through this woman cause- your(sg) family -to-be-famous like the family of Perez, the child of Juda by Tamar.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “All the elders and the others who were sitting at the town gate agreed, and one of them said, ‘Yes, we are witnesses. We hope/desire that Yahweh will enable this woman, who will be coming into your home, to give birth to many children, as Rachel and Leah did. They are the women from whom all us people of Israel are descended. We hope that you will become rich in the clan of Ephratah, and become famous here in Bethlehem. We hope/desire that Yahweh will enable you and this young woman to have many descendants. And we hope/desire that your family will be as important as the family of your ancestor Perez, the son of Judah and Tamar.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)