The Hebrew that is translated in English as “Why do the wicked renounce God” or similar is translated in Halbi as “How can the wicked man despise God?” “The translators became aware that the initial question (“Why does the wicked man despise God?”) could be seen by readers as a genuine content question rather than a rhetorical question.” (Source: Tim Stirtz and Mike Cahill in Watters / de Blois 2023, p. 420)
“Renounce God” is translated in Chichewa as chipongwe Mulungu. “Chipwonge” is used to refer to acts or derogatory remarks that dishonor another person. (Mulungu is the Chichewa word for “God.”) (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
The Hebrew in Psalm 2:12 that is translated as “kiss his feet” or similar in English is translated in Elhomwe with “bow down.” “‘To embrace’ (or ‘kiss’) when defeated would not be appropriate in Llomwe culture.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
In the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) it is not translated with the term for the mouth-to-mouth kiss which is done in private for people in a romantic relationship. Rather, it is kissing of either the feet or hands by someone of lower status. This kind of kiss is for expression of respect, submission, and apology. Mostly, the people whose feet or hands are kissed are those with authority such as chiefs, elders, and religious leaders. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
The Hebrew in Psalm 68:9 that is translated as “rain in abundance” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) with mivumbi the plural form of “mvumbi, a type of rain that falls for a very long time continuously for not less than 12 hours. This type of rain comes when the rains are at the peak when crops are at a crucial stage of needing a lot of rains. Due to lack of a better English word, this translation has rendered it as “continuous rains” to capture the idea of continuity. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “interest” (as in payments for a loan) in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) as chiwongoladzanja which literary means something that stretches the hand. The understanding is that an interest is paid to thank the hand that was stretched out in the process of giving a loan. Since a person gets a loan to be helped from their problems, thanking the hand that has given (stretched out in giving) is considered to be an important way of expressing one’s gratitude. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
The Hebrew in Psalm 68:28 that is translated as “summon your might” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) as “fasten your power.” The word “fasten” (kungani) is used to refer to an act of pulling strings when binding something together that it becomes more compacted and very strong. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
The Hebrew in Psalm 18:5 that is translated as “the cords of Sheol” in some English versions is rendered in Medumba with the existing expression “the odor of death.” (Source: Jan de Waard in The Bible Translator1974, p. 107ff )
In the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) it is translated as In “the ropes from the grave.” In Chewa culture these are used to descend a coffin with a dead body into the grave. These ropes are kept at the grave or in some communities at the house of one of the people who take care of the grave. Being tied by these ropes is considered to be a big misfortune as they are associated with death. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
The Hebrew in Psalm 16:8 that is translated as “keep before me” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) with the idiom patsogolo panga which means “my guide.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
The Hebrew in Psalm 41:9 that is translated as “they gathered together against me” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) with bwezi la pamtima or “friend of the heart.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
