The Greek in 1 Corinthians 1:25 that is translated as “foolishness of God” in English is translated into Bunun as “if God was foolish then even his foolishness would exceed our wisdom.” (“The notion that God was foolish was thought to be a problem.”) (Source: Graham Ogden)
TIn Huixtán Tzotzil it is translated as “they mistakenly think that it is in vain what God says.” Huixtán Tzotzil frequently uses the verb -cuy to express “to mistakenly think something” from the point of view of the speaker. (Source: Marion M. Cowan in Notes on Translation 20/1966, pp. 6ff.)
The German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) navigates the issue of calling God foolish (and weak) by putting the words “foolishness” (»Unsinn«) and “weakness” (»Schwäche«) in quotation marks.
The Greek in John 15:11 that is translated in English as “(my joy) might remain in you” or “(my joy) may be in you” is translated in Tzotzil as “these things I have told you in order that your hearts may be happy-untroubled like my heart is happy-untroubled.”
“If Jesus’ words in John 15:11 were to be translated literally (…) it would infer that Jesus had given all His joy away and so not have any Himself.” (Source: Marion Cowan in The Bible Translator 1963, p. 90)
The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “the thoughts of the wise are futile” or similar in English is translated in Huixtán Tzotzil as “I know the hearts of those who mistakenly think they are wise. I know that it’s just in vain what they think in their hearts.” Huixtán Tzotzil frequently uses the verb -cuy to express “to mistakenly think something” from the point of view of the speaker. (Source: Marion M. Cowan in Notes on Translation 20/1966, pp. 6ff.)
In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it is translated as “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise. They are deaf blossoms.”
The Greek that is translated as “Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” or similar in English is translated in Huixtán Tzotzil as “You mistakenly think that if you receive baptism God will not punish you, you mistakenly think.” Huixtán Tzotzil frequently uses the verb -cuy to express “to mistakenly think something” from the point of view of the speaker. (Source: Marion M. Cowan in Notes on Translation 20/1966, pp. 6ff.)
In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it is translated as Niemand kann euch einen Schleichweg sagen, auf dem ihr Gottes Zorn entkommen könnt or “No one can point you to a secret path to escape God’s wrath.”
The Greek in 1 Corinthians 1:20 that is translated as “Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” or similar in English is translated in Huixtán Tzotzil as “God has already shown that in vain speak those here in this world who mistakenly think they are wise.” Huixtán Tzotzil frequently uses the verb -cuy to express “to mistakenly think something” from the point of view of the speaker. (Source: Marion M. Cowan in Notes on Translation 20/1966, pp. 6ff.)
In Elhomwe “wisdom of this world” is translated as “wisdom of the people of this world.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Greek in 1 Corinthians 2:1 that is translated as “in lofty words or wisdom” or similar in English is translated in Huixtán Tzotzil as “I did not mistakenly think that my words were good. I did not mistakenly think that there was the wisdom of my heart.” Huixtán Tzotzil frequently uses the verb -cuy to express “to mistakenly think something” from the point of view of the speaker. (Source: Marion M. Cowan in Notes on Translation 20/1966, pp. 6ff.)
During the translation of the New Testament into Huixtán Tzotzil, translation consultant Marion Cowan found that questions where the answer is obvious, affirmative rhetorical questions, as well questions raising objections tended to cause confusion among the readers. So these are rendered as simple or emphatic statements.
Accordingly, Matthew 7:9-11 reads “If your son asks you for a tortilla to eat, not a stone you would give him. If he asks you for fish to eat, not a snake you would give him. You whose hearts are not good, know what good gifts you will give your children. Your father in heaven surpassingly knows what good gifts he will give to those who ask him.”
The Greek in Acts 2:15 that is translated as “these are not drunk” or similar in English had to be translated in Tzotzil as “We (excluding you) are not drunk.” A literal translation would be inferring that Peter had not received the Holy Spirit along with the rest who were present in the upper room. (Source: Marion Cowan in The Bible Translator 1962, p. 90 )
