Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 6:22:
Uma: “‘Our (incl.) eye can be compared to a torch. If our (incl.) eye is good, our (incl.) sight/vision is clear.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Our (dual) eyes are figuratively the lamp of our (dual) body. If our (dual) seeing is clear, that means, if our (dual) works are straight/righteous, our (dual) whole body is like light.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Our (dual) eye, it’s like a lamp here in our body, because if our seeing is bright, which is to say, if our activity is righteous, it is as if our whole body is illuminated.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “‘The eye is like the light of people. Therefore if your (sing.) sight/viewpoint is good, it is as if your (sing.) mind is thoroughly lighted.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “I’ll also add something else, that what is like a lamp for the body is the eye. If it has no defect, of course your (sing.) whole sight is clear.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “When you open your eyes good, then you see the light. In like manner, if you open your understanding well, then you will know what is the good by which you must live.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Amele: “Jisas told them another talk, ‘The light of your body (is) your eye. If your eye lies good then all your body lies with light.'” (Source: John Roberts in this article )
Martu Wangka: “If you think to sit true to the Father, as a result of that, you will sit happy.” (Source: Carl Gross)
German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) verses 22 and 23: “The eye is light for the whole body. When the eye is clear, the whole body is brightly illuminated; when it is dim, the body is dark. If your own light does not dispel the darkness within you, how great is the darkness outside!”
Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Thessalonians 4:7:
Uma: “Because what was God’s intention in calling us (incl.), relatives? He did not call us (incl.) in order to do wrong. He called us (incl.) and he gave us his Spirit who is holy, in order that our lives be holy. So anyone who refuses this teaching, is not refusing men. It is God [emp.] he is refusing.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “For we (incl.) were not chosen by God so that we (incl.) do bad/do immoral things, but he wishes that we (incl.) are holy/clean.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “For God has made us believers in him so that our activity might become worthy of a person who belongs to him. He does not want our activity to be immoral.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Because God did not choose us (incl.) in order for us to do what is filthy but rather so that we would follow a holy way-of-life.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “For God has determined that we will live lives which are righteous/straight, not lives which disgust him.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Because God called us in order that we live for good. God does not want that we live for evil.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999): “The fact that God has called us does not mean that nothing else matters, but that he has called us into holiness, and that means distinction, in which everything does matter.”
Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 9:49:
Uma: “According to the Law of Musa long ago, all food that is offered to God must be salted. So all every person must be made holy with suffering.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Isa said yet, ‘All people have to pass through fire, that means through difficulties, in order that their trust becomes strong.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Every disciple of mine shall be prepared by means of salt and fire, which is to say, by means of hardship, so that his faith might be strenghtened.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “‘All people, they must experience difficulties so-that their behavior becomes-good, like the food that must be salted so-that it is delicious.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “It’s true, there are hardships which will be experienced by all, which cause improvement of their ways/nature. For like the action of salt and fire, these hardships remove whatever is not good or is worthless.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Shuar: “If a person wants to give a meat killed gift to God, he is to salt it that it be good. So also people will taste/experience suffering like fire so that their heart may be good.”
Mezquital Otomi: “The animals long ago, those that were burned as gifts for God, it was necessary that salt be put on them as God had commanded. Also, you all are like those animals which are burned, because it is necessary that you pass through bad happenings.”
Tlahuitoltepec Mixe: “All of God’s people are going to suffer here on earth and when they thus do they will result much better. Thus we will imagine it like an animal sacrifice comes out much better when it is sacrificed with salt.”
Usila Chinantec: “Everyone will be made good through suffering, which feels like fire. All offerings to God are acceptable to him when they are salted.”
Mopán Maya: “Thus it was. They put salt on the animals they burn before God. It is the same with someone who is believing/obeying me. He will have tribulation [meet pain] so that that man will become good before God,”
Totontepec Mixe: “Everyone will have hearts like good salt when they have suffered here. This suffering is like fire. . .”
Sierra de Juárez Zapotec: “Everyone is going to be tried with suffering in this world.” (Source for this and six above: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999): “This fire is as imperishable as salt. Everyone comes into contact with it. If it is not consumed, it is preserved.”
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 9:31:
Uma: “So at that time, there was no-longer any fear/uneasiness of all the believers in the Lord Yesus in the land of Yudea, Galilea and Samaria. More-and-more people believed in Yesus and their faith grew stronger-and-stronger. Because they indeed submitted to the Lord God, and the Holy Spirit himself strengthened their hearts.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “So-then it was peaceful now for all the ones trusting in Isa throughout the land of Yahudiya and in Jalil and for those in the land of Samariya. They were helped by the Holy Spirit therefore the trust/faith of all of them became stronger and they also increased in number. They really reverenced God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then the situation of all the believers there in the province of Judea, Samaria, and Galilee became peaceful. Their faith was drawn tight. And since they always put first their respect for the Lord and because of the help which the Holy Spirit gave them they continued growing in number.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “That then being the case, the persecuting of believers in Jesus in the many-towns in Judea, Galilea and Samaria stopped. And they increased-in-number while-simultaneously their faith became-stronger-and-stronger on-account-of their esteeming/respecting the Lord and the help of the Holy Spirit.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Well, at that time, there was no more trouble for the believers in all the places belonging to Judea, Galilea and Samaria. They were always being helped by the Espiritu Santo, that’s why their believing/obeying became sturdy, and in/through their lives they were honoring the Lord with fear. And through the help of the Espiritu Santo, their number increased and increased.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999): “A peaceful time was now beginning for the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria. The fear of God determined the spiritual foundation and their entire behavior. The Holy Spirit assisted the church and it grew.”
Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 6:23:
Uma: “But if our (incl.) eye is cloudy, it’s like our (incl.) sight is dark. So, if the Lord enlightens our (incl.) heart, and we (incl.) make it dark again, it will really be pitch dark. [lit., no kidding its pitch darkness.]” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “But if our (dual) seeing is clouded, that means our (dual) works are bad, our (dual) whole body is like dark. If we (dual) say/think that our (dual) body is light but in fact/surprise it is dark, then it is really very dark.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But if we are blind, which is to say, if we are wicked, it’s as if we are benighted. And if we are blinded because of our wickedness, then our way is dark indeed.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “But if your (sing.) sight/viewpoint is bad, it is as if your (sing.) mind is extremely dark. So if you (sing.) say/think that your (sing.) mind is lighted but unexpectedly it is dark, surely it is extremely dark!'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “But if your eye has a defect, of course in your sight all is darkened/unclear. Well this which I am saying that the eye is like the lamp of the body, what is being alluded to here is your mind/inner-being. For as long as it’s your own will and good-situation here in the world that you are giving priority to, alas, it’s really very darkened/unclear in your mind/inner-being.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “But if you don’t open your understanding, then you do not truly know what is the good by which you must live. Then how bad is the darkness where you walk (live), because your thoughts are not opened for you to know the good.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Martu Wangka: “If you think to do bad things, then you will be bad and you will be ignorant of the Father.” (Source: Carl Gross)
German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) verses 22 and 23: “The eye is light for the whole body. When the eye is clear, the whole body is brightly illuminated; when it is dim, the body is dark. If your own light does not dispel the darkness within you, how great is the darkness outside!”
Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Thessalonians 5:7:
Uma: “Because people who sleep and get-drunk, sleep and get-drunk at night.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “It is at night hep that people sleep and it is also at night that the people who drink are always drunk.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “He who sleeps, sleeps in the night, and he who gets drunk, also gets drunk in the night.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Because the night is the sleeping-time of people and the getting-drunk-time of drunkards.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “For isn’t it so that night is the time when people sleep and get drunk?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Those who sleep sleep in the night. Those who get drunk get drunk in the night.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999): “Both who sleep at night and who are drunk at night belong to the darkness.”
Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 9:50:
Uma: “‘Salt is very useful. But if its saltiness changes with the result that it is plain/tasteless, what else could make it salty? So also, you who follow me must be like salt: Don’t let your faith become weak. You must live in unity.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “He also said, ‘You do know that salt is really good. But if the salt has no more taste, it cannot become salty again. Therefore you also,’ he said, ‘you should be careful in order that you do not lose your reciprocal-respect and your reciprocal-harmony.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Not only that but salt is good because it makes food delicious, however, if salt loses its flavor, there is no way to bring back its flavor. And the same way, your works must be like salt so that you might be the means for making people better. And it is necessary that your relationship together with each one of you must become peaceful.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “The salt, it has a purpose, but if it becomes-tasteless, it’s tang can definitely not be returned. So think about the use of salt and help-each-other so that you will be in-harmony.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Salt is good as long as it is indeed salty. But if it’s no longer salty, how can it be made salty again? Well as for you (pl.), you must make it your habit to be like the saltiness of this. For if you make your nature/ways like this, it’s for the benefit of one another. And persevere with being like-minded which will result in your fellowship/companionship with your fellowman being peaceful.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Mazaltepec Zapotec: “Salt gives flavor (makes food taste good). There is salt which is mixed with earth. This salt loses its flavor. If the salt loses its flavor, with what can we restore its flavor? You, my disciples, should be like good salt which does not lose its flavor. Thus you will be in peace among yourselves.”
Southern Puebla Mixtec: “Salt is good so that food will not go bad. But if the salt is not salty any more, how can we use it? We cannot. So you do like the good salt does. Care for your heart so that it will not go bad. You had better live at peace with one another.”
Korku: “Salt is good to make food acceptable, but if its saltiness is lost leaving only that which is not salt, it is no longer useful to make food acceptable. You also should have something like that in your own hearts so that you will be acceptable to one another and be at peace.” (Source for this and two above: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999): “Salt preserves. If the preserving power of salt could be lost, we would no longer have salt to preserve itself. Peace is like salt. Have salt with you, that means: keep peace with one another.”
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 13:41:
Uma: “‘Be careful, you who disparage. You will be surprised seeing my deeds, in the end you will be punished with death. Because at this time, I do something that is very powerful. Yet you refuse to believe it, even though someone explains it to you.’ ‘” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “‘You who do not believe, and who make fun/mock, look/watch-out. You will be very amazed at what-I-do, and you will perish,’ says God, ‘because while you are yet alive, I will do (something) and you will not believe it, even if you are told.’ ‘” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “‘You who scorn, you’ll be very surprised at what I am going to do. And you will die because there is that which I will do which you will see. However, you will not believe it even though there is someone to explain it to you.’ ‘” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “‘Listen, you who ridicule, because I will do something in your lifetime that will be an amazement to you, but you will nevertheless die, because you do not believe that it will be done, even though there is someone who-tells-it correctly to you.’ ‘ That was the ending of what Pablo said to them.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “which says, ‘Listen to this, you who habitually-insult. You really will be amazed at what will come to you which will cause your downfall/being-permanently-lost. Because I will do something in your time which, even if it keeps being told to you what I will do, you won’t acknowledge it as true.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999): “‘I will accomplish something so great in your lifetime that when someone tells you about it, you will stand there with your mouths open and not believe it and think it’s madness. And then you will perish.'”
For the Old Testament quotes, see Habakkuk 1:5 (from the Greek Septuagint).
