Following are a number of back-translations of John 1:15:
Uma: “Yohanes the Baptizer caused-to-know the people who that Word was. He called loudly he said: ‘He is the one I said earlier! I said: there will be one who comes after me, but his power surpasses mine. Because before I was born, he already was.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Yahiya talked about the Word. He spoke loudly, he said, ‘This is he/it that I talked to you about, I said, ‘There is somebody coming here after me. He is greater than I because when I was not yet born, he was already beforehand.’ ‘ This is what Yahiya said.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And this John, he caused people to understand who that one was who is titled the Word of God. John spoke out loudly. He said, ‘This is the person I told about when I said, ‘There is one who comes later than I who is greater than I because long ago before I was born, he already was,’ ‘ said John.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Juan confirmed/verified-concerning him saying, ‘This is the one I was talking-about when I told you that the one who would-follow-me was greater than I, because before I was yet born, he already-existed.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “He was being testified about by this Juan who was shouting it out, saying, ‘This one is he of whom I told when I said then as-you-heard, the one who is coming next after me, he is superior to me, because before I was born, he already was/existed.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “John told the people who he was. He said, ‘This one is that one I spoke of before. Because I already said, ‘He who comes afterwards is greater than I because before I was living, already he was living.”” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Huehuetla Tepehua: “John told what he knew about that Word. When he was preaching he spoke loudly and this is what he said: ‘The one who is coming afterwards, he is the big one. Not I, since he was living before me. Not I. He is the one I preached to you about.'” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
Hiligaynon: “Juan bore-witness about him. He said, ‘He is whom I am-speaking-of who will-arrive after me. But he is higher-(in position) than I, for before I was born, he was already there before.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
Mairasi: “Yohanis lived as a witness about this message then shouting, he said: ‘This is the One, consistent with my throat which I said: ‘He Himself, the One Who will eventually come, He Himself is the One Who is Important. I myself am small. Because He Himself lived ahead of time then I myself was born.’ I regularly say’ said Yohanis.” (Source: Enggavoter 2004)
Bariai: “Ioanes confirmed talk about him and so called and said, ‘This man, previously I spoke to you(pl) about him as follows, ‘A man comes after me, his name/status is greater than me. For he was living prior to the day in which I hadn’t come forth yet.’’ ” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
Kupsabiny: “He is the one whom John said by calling aloud that, ‘He is the one whom I said will come after me who has powers more than me because he was there when I was not yet born.'” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 23:3:
Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
“he revives my life.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
because of his name.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
Chichewa interconfessional translation, 1999:
“He revives my life-force.
He leads me in a righteous path in accordance with the glory of his name.” (Source: Wendland 1998, p. 148f.)
Chichewa poetic translation in the traditional ndakatulo genre to encourage oral and musical performances:
“My life he always revives it right there.
Along straight paths he leads me in them,
According to his well-known name — Chauta!” (Source: Ernst Wendland)
Kupsabiny:
“He restores my strength,
and leads me along the right path for the sake of his name.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Adilabad Gondi:
“He (emph.) gives new strength to my life/soul.
According to his name, he leads me on righteous paths.” (Source: Adilabad Gondi Back Translation)
Newari:
“He gives me new life,
For the sake of His name
He takes me along the path of righteousness.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon:
“You (sing.) strengthen me.
You (sing.) guide me in the right/proper path/road so-that you (sing.) will-be-honored.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
Eastern Bru:
“When I feel sad or weak, then he comforts/encourages my heart to become strong again. And he gives/allows me to be straight good, because he has already promised that.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
Laarim:
“he makes my spirit to be strong again.
He takes me to the ways which are right,
because of his names.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
“Anauburudisha moyo wangu,
ananiongoza katika njia nyofu,
ili liheshimiwe jina lake.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
English:
“You renew my strength.
You guide me along the roads that are the right ones for me
in order that I can honor you.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 4:2:
Uma: “Forty days, forty nights he fasted. From there, he was hungry.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “When Isa was there he did not eat forty days and forty nights. After that he was hungry.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when it was already forty days, Jesus hadn’t eaten and he was very hungry.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “He stayed there for forty days and nights absolutely not eating, and then he felt his hunger.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “When forty nights and days had past during which Jesus was fasting, he was now hungry.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “During forty days, both day and night, Jesus did not eat. Afterwards, he was extremely hungry.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Bariai: “Iesus abstained from food for a duration of forty days and nights. It went until he hungered very greatly.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
Kupsabiny: “And when Jesus had stayed there for forty days without eating anything, hunger ate him.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Mairasi: “He Himself had already not eaten for two whole people’s digits worth of days [forty days] and two whole people’s digits worth of nights [forty nights]. Then Yesus was hungry.” [For the counting system, see body part tally systems.] (Source Enggavoter 2004)
Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 19:33:
Noongar: “They began untying the donkey. The people who owned the donkey, they asked, ‘Why are you untying the donkey?'” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
Uma: “While they were untying that donkey, its owner asked: ‘Why are you untying that donkey?'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “While they were untying the child of the donkey, it’s owner said to them, ‘Hoy, why are you untying that child of a donkey?'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when they untied that donkey, the owner of it said, ‘Why are you untying that?” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Upon their untying its rope (lit. tie), the owner said, ‘Why are you untying that?'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Just as they were untying the tether, the owners said, ‘Why are you untying the tether of that asno?'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Bariai: “It came about that they untied its rope, and the donki’s owners asked them, ‘Why is it that you’re untying its rope?’” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
Kupsabiny: “It came about that they untied its rope, and the donki’s owners asked them, ‘Why is it that you’re untying its rope?’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Mairasi: “They themselves were untying the small keledai [donkey], the owner said to them: ‘Why are you untying this keledai ?’ said he. ” (Source: Enggavoter 2004)
Hiligaynon: “While they are-untying the young ass they are asked by the owner, ‘Why are-you(pl) untying that?’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 2:7:
Uma: “No kidding their surprise, they said: ‘What do you think is happening here? For those speakers there are all Galilea people.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “They were amazed and greatly surprised, so they said, ‘What’s this? These who are speaking are men from Jalil hep.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Therefore they were startled and amazed, and they asked each other saying, ‘What maybe is this? They are Galileans who are speaking.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “They were extremely amazed saying, ‘What truly is this? Aren’t all those who are speaking from-Galilea don’t-you-suppose?” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “They were really very amazed and were quesioning-one-another, saying, ‘Isn’t it so that these ones speaking in many different languages are all taga Galilea?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “They said, ‘What is this? They are all from-Galilee!” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
Mairasi: “They themselves their breath kept escaping as they looked at them, then they said: ‘Wow! We say in our hearts: ‘These very people who are speaking are all Galileans!’ we say.” (Source: Enggavoter 2004)
Bariai: “They were startled and amazed and said, “Yo, these people who are talking, they are all from Galili, eh?” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
Kupsabiny: “Then these people said, ‘This is unheard of! Are not all these people Galileans?” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 1:13:
Uma: “Forty days he was there. While he was in that field, the King of Evil-ones tempted him. Wild animals were with him, and angels took care of him.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Forty days (and nights) he was tempted there by the leader of demons. There were also forest animals there but Isa was cared for by the angels.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Jesus stayed there for forty days, and Satan tested him to see if he might sin. And there were also there harmful beasts, but the angels of God came to Jesus and took care of him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “He stayed there for forty days while-simultaneously also Satanas (Satan) tried-repeatedly to tempt him. There were also fierce animals where he was, but (reassurance particle) there were angels who were helping him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Forty days was how long he was there. He was tempted/tested by Satanas as to whether he could-be-caused- by him -to-fall (into sin, fig.). There in that place there were wild animals, but Jesus was being served by angels.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Bariai: “He stayed in that area for a duration of forty days, and Satan was testing him. He was living with the wild animals, and anggelos came and helped him.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
Kupsabiny: “He stayed there for forty days without anything he was eating. Satan tempted him while he was there. When Satan had left, (the) angels of God came and helped him.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Mairasi: “There at-this-place where there were no other people the Headman-of-the-malevolent-spirits regularly tempted him, there were wild jungle-meat around him, and angels whom Great Above One sent regularly cared for him. He stayed there until finally two complete persons [40 = 2 people = 40 fingers & toes] days.” [For the counting system, see body part tally systems.] (Source Enggavoter 2004)
Shipibo-Conibo: “Then he was where no house is, forty days. While there, Satan wanted to make him do evil. He was also among biting things. Then the word bringers made him eat.” (Source: James Lauriault in The Bible Translator 1951, p. 32ff. )
Balinese: “Forty nights long He was in the barren field, tempted by Sang [‘Sang’ is a personal article that is often attached to the names of persons or powers that are characteristic of the normal, human, every-day world] Satan. There He was in the midst of wild beasts, served by the heavenly messengers.” (Source: J.L. Swellengrebel in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 75ff. )
English translation by Michael Pakaluk (2019): “And he was in the desert for forty days, where he was put to the test by Satan. He faced dangerous animals. And the angels ministered to him.”
Following are a number of back-translations of John 1:5:
Huehuetla Tepehua: “That one who gives understanding to the minds of men, he was like a light that shines where it is dark. But the one who walks where it is dark (the devil) couldn’t overcome him.”
Ojitlán Chinantec: “For people are in the evil way, as if to say, they are in darkness. But he illuminates people. The evil one did not prevail over that one who illuminates people.”
Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “He is like a light which illuminates where it is dark. And the devil, he is of the darkness but he cannot conquer the light.”
Yatzachi Zapotec: “The person who is the word has light for the hearts of mankind. Even though there is very much evil in this world where he arrived, the evil did not shut off his light.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
Chol: “The light of the world shows itself in the midst of a very dark world. This very dark world was not able to put out the light.” Wilbur Aulie (in The Bible Translator 1957, p. 109ff. ) explains the use of “put out the light” (click here to display)
“The problem of multiple meanings is often involved in the rendering of figures. Some hold that Greek katelaben in John 1:5 means both ‘to grasp with the mind’ (i.e., ‘to comprehend’) and ‘to grasp with the hand’ (i.e., to overcome’). Many translators are obliged to make a choice here. In Chol there is no choice, since the darkness cannot comprehend, even metaphorically speaking. It was therefore rendered: ‘The darkness did not put out the light’.”
Uma: “That light shone/shines in the darkness, and the darkness was/is not able to kill it/him [NOTE: The verb ‘kill’ can be used of putting out a light or fire]” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “This light shines in darkness and the light can really not be put out by the darkness.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “That light has illumined the darkness here upon the earth, and the light was not defeated by this darkness.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “He has-been-steadily-illuminating the darkness, and the darkness, it is not able-to-defeat the light.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “He gives-light/makes-clear like a light/lamp in darkness, but those who are in darkness, they don’t want to be shined-on by this light.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “The light shines in darkness and it is not able to be put out.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “This light lightens the darkness, and its light was not overcome by darkness. ” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
Mairasi: “That is the true Light which already arrived in this world to brighten people.” (Source: Enggavoter 2004)
Bariai: “The light shined in the dark place, yet it wasn’t possible for the darkness to surpass that light.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
Kupsabiny: “That light shines in the darkness and that darkness doesn’t swallow (the) light.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 4:10:
Noongar: “because the Bible says, ‘God will send his angels and they will save you’.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
Uma: “Nothing will happen to you (sing.), because it is written in the Holy Book: ‘The Lord God orders his angels to protect you (sing.), so that you (sing.) do not come-to-harm/disaster.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “for it is written in the holy-book it says, ‘He has commanded his angels to watch over/care for you so that nothing bad will happen to you.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Because there is a written word of God which says, ‘God will cause His angels to help you,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “because the written word of God says, ‘God will command his angels to take-care-of you (sing.).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “For isn’t is so that it is written as-you-know, saying, ‘God will order his angels to take care of you,” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Bariai: “For Deo’s book has talk like this, | ‘‘He will talk strongly to his anggelo | in order that they be looking after you (sing.).’” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
Kupsabiny: “it is written, ‘God will send his angels to support you’ ‘” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Mairasi: “Because in the Holy Book it is written like this: ‘Great Above One will soon command His sent-ones [and] they will come guard you very well’ it said.'” (Source Enggavoter 2004)
Kinaray-A: “Did not the Scripture say that ‘God will order his angels to watch over you’?” (Source: Balbina Abadiano in Notes on Translation 1988, p. 40ff.)
