The Hebrew in Psalm 104:21 that is translated as “prey” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) with nyama which can be translated either as “animals” or “meat.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
still waters
The Hebrew in Psalm 23:2 that is often translated as “still waters” in English is translated as “water at the mouth of a well” in Dan since “the imagery of ‘still water’ is seen as something negative, water that is dirty since it isn’t moving.” (Source: Don Slager)
In the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) it is translated as “clean/good drinking water.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
See also Translation commentary on Psalm 23:2.
rod
The Hebrew in Psalm 23:4 that is translated as “rod” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) with chibonga which means “club.” In Chewa culture, a “chibonga” is a stick of about 75cm long with a round head of the size of a fist of an adult on one end used for hunting animals (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
do not hide
The Hebrew in Psalm 55:1 that is translated as “do not hide” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) with musakufulatire or “do not show your back.” This describes an act of looking aside and bending your back against someone or something. It has a sense of abandoning or rejecting. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
familiar friend
The Hebrew in Psalm 55:13 that is translated as “familiar friend” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) with bwenzi langa la pondaapanʼpondepo, lit. “a friend of step-here-I-also-step-there,” i.e. someone with whom one is a deep friendship with. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
See also close friend.
stronghold
The Hebrew that is translated in English as “stronghold” is translated in Chichewa with linga. In Chewa culture, the word has its background in the context of war. Before the 1950s, there were a lot of tribal wars. The word “linga” was used to refer to a place, mostly a cave in a mountain or hill, where people were hiding in times of wars. Sometimes they used this place to hide their weapons. This was a safe place to be in times of danger. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
See also fortress.
do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth
The Hebrew in Psalm 119:43 that is translated as “do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) as “do not remove the words of truth in my mouth.” The word that has been translated as “remove” is “kwatula“. In Chichewa, this word has the sense of removing something by force and at an unexpected time. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
they gathered together against me
The Hebrew that is translated as “they gathered together against me” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) with the metaphor “pouring war against me,” used in Chichewa to refer to an act of waging war against someone. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)