The Greek, Hebrew and Ge’ez that is typically translated as “eternity,” “forever,” or “forever and ever” in English are translated in Mairasi as “mashed out infinitely.” Lloyd Peckham explains: “Bark cloth required pounding. It got longer and wider as it got pounded. Similarly, life gets pounded or mashed to lengthen it into infinity. Tubers also get mashed into the standard way of serving the staple food, like the fufu of Uganda, or like poi of Hawaii. It spreads out into infinity.” (Source: Lloyd Peckham)
In Lisu the phrase “forever and ever” is translated as ꓕꓲꓽ ꓞꓲꓼ ꓕꓲ ꓑ — thi tsi thi pa, verbatim translated as “one – lifetime – one – world.” This construction follows a traditional four-couplet construct in oral Lisu poetry that is usually in the form ABAC or ABCB. (Source: Arrington 2020, p. 57f.)
In Makonde it is often translated as navyaka or “years and years.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew in Proverbs 26:3 that is translated as “bridle” or similar in English is translated in Kwere as “rope.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew that is typically translated as “(his) countenance fell” in English is translated in Nyamwezi as wu’syu’ wakwe wasininkalaga: “his face went hard” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew in Genesis 10:5 that is often translated as “coastland peoples” in English is translated in Makonde as “people of the coast and the islands” to be more and more precise match for the Hebrew text. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew that is translated as “shelter” or “refuge” or similar in English is translated in Vidunda as “place to run to.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
(Pioneer Bible Translators and The Word for the World use the following introduction in many of their translation projects around the world.)
The book of Jonah is about the prophet Jonah’s mission to the city of Nineveh. Unlike other prophetic books, this book focuses more on the prophet and his actions than on God’s message. Jonah’s ministry happened at about the same time that Jeroboam II was king of Israel, around 800-750 B.C., but scholars do not know when the book itself was written.
God sent Jonah to preach against Nineveh, but Jonah did not obey and went in the opposite direction from Nineveh (1:1–3). He went on board a ship that was going to the city of Tarshish. While the ship was sailing to Tarshish, God sent a great storm. The sailors were very afraid, and they threw Jonah into the ocean to calm God’s anger. Jonah prayed and God allowed him to live. God sent a big fish to swallow Jonah and spit him out on dry land. Finally, Jonah went to Nineveh to preach against it, and the people of the city repented. The book of Jonah emphasizes how merciful God is even though Jonah did not want God to be merciful (4:2).
Outline:
1. Chapter 1 explains how Jonah ran away from God and ended up in the belly of a fish.
2. Chapter 2 contains Jonah’s prayer to God while he was in the belly of the fish.
3. In chapter 3, Jonah preaches to Nineveh and the people of the city repent. God decides to spare them.
4. Finally, in chapter 4, Jonah is angry that God showed mercy to the people of Nineveh, and God tells Jonah that He loves all people.
Le livre de Jonas concerne la mission du prophète Jonas envers la ville de Ninive. A la différence des autres livres prophétiques ce livre-ci se concentre beaucoup plus sur le prophète et ses actions que sur le message de Dieu. Ce ministère a eu lieu plus ou moins au même temps que le règne de Jéroboam II en Israël, vers 800-750 avant-JC. Mais les savants ne savent pas la date de l’écriture du livre lui-même.
Dieu a envoyé Jonas à Ninive avec l’instruction de prêcher contre les habitants, mais Jonas n’a pas obéi ; il est parti plutôt dans la direction opposée (1.1-3). Il s’est embarqué dans un navire qui se dirigeait vers la ville de Tarsis. Alors que le navire s’avançait vers Tarsis Dieu a envoyé un grand orage. Les matelots ont eu très peur et ils ont jeté Jonas dans la mer pour apaiser la colère de Dieu.
Jonas a prié et Dieu lui a permis de rester en vie. Dieu a envoyé un grand poisson qui a avalé Jonas et puis l’a rejeté sur la terre ferme. Finalement Jonas est allé à Ninive pour prêcher contre les habitants et ceux-ci se sont repentis. Le livre de Jonas souligne combien Dieu est miséricordieux alors même que Jonas ne voulait pas qu’il le soit. (4.2)
Résumé de Jonas
1. Les chapitres 1:1-2:1 décrivent comment Jonas a essayé de s’échapper de Dieu mais a fini par se trouver dans le ventre d’un poisson.
2. Le chapitre 2:2-11 contient la prière de Jonas lorsqu’il était dans le ventre du poisson.
3. Dans le chapitre 3 Jonas prêche aux habitants de Ninive et ceux-ci se repentent. Dieu se décide de les épargner.
4. Finalement, au chapitre 4, Jonas se fâche du fait que Dieu a manifesté de la miséricorde envers les habitants de Ninive et Dieu dit à Jonas qu’il aime toute personne.
Translation: Swahili
Utangulizi wa Yona
Kitabu cha Yona kinahusu utume wa nabii Yona kwa mji wa Ninawi. Tofauti na vitabu vingine vya kinabii, kitabu hiki kinalenga zaidi juu ya nabii na matendo yake kuliko kwenye ujumbe wa Mungu. Huduma ya Yona ilitokea wakati huo huo ambapo Yeroboamu II alikuwa mfalme wa Israeli, mnamo mwaka 800-750 K.K. (kabla ya kristo), lakini wasomi hawajui wakati ambapo kitabu chenyewe kiliandikwa.
Mungu alimtuma Yona kuhubiri dhidi ya Ninawi, lakini Yona hakutii na akaenda katika mwelekeo kinyume kutoka Ninawi (1:1-3). Alikwenda kwenye meli iliyokuwa ikienda katika mji wa Tarshasi. Wakati meli ilipokuwa ikisafiri kwenda Tarshishi, Mungu alituma dhoruba kubwa. Mabaharia waliogopa sana, na wakamtupa Yona baharini ili kutuliza hasira ya Mungu. Yona aliomba na Mungu alimruhusu kuishi. Mungu akatuma samaki mkubwa kummeza Yona. Hatimaye, Yona alikwenda Ninawi kuhubiri dhidi yake, na watu wa mji walitubu. Kitabu cha Yona kinasisitiza jinsi Mungu alivyo na huruma ingawa Yona hakutaka Mungu awe na huruma (4:2).
Muhtasari:
1. Sura ya 1 inaelezea jinsi Yona alivyomkimbia Mungu na kuishia kwenye tumbo la samaki.
2. Sura ya 2 ina maombi ya Yona kwa Mungu wakati alipokuwa ndani ya tumbo la samaki.
3. Katika sura ya 3, Yona ahubiri Ninawi na watu wa mji watubu. Mungu anaamua kuwaachilia.
4. Mwishowe, katika sura ya 4, Yona amekasirika kwamba Mungu aliwahurumia watu wa Ninawi, na Mungu anamwambia Yona kwamba anawapenda watu wote.
(Pioneer Bible Translators and The Word for the World use the following introduction in many of their translation projects around the world.)
The letter of 1 John was written by the Apostle John between 50 and 100 years after the birth of Christ. John does not identify himself as the author, instead he calls himself the elder. The content of 2 John closely resembles the content found in The Gospel according to John. This is especially apparent in the way he emphasizes Jesus’ command to love one another and in the way he equates loving Jesus with following his commands (1:5–6, John 15:9–10). It is believed that John wrote The Gospel according to John and the three letters 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John while living in Ephesus.
John addressed this letter to the chosen lady and her children. He was likely referring to a church. John’s purpose in writing this letter was to encourage the church and warn them of false teachers.
Outline:
1. John introduces the letter by saying who it is for and by greeting its recipients (1:1-3).
2. Then he encourages the church and reminds them of the greatest commandment (1:4-6).
3. Next, he warns them of false teachers (1:7-11).
4. John finishes his letter by conveying greetings from the believers in the church where he is living (1:12-13).
La lettre de 2 Jean a été écrite par l’apôtre Jean entre 85 et 90 ans après la naissance de Christ. Jean ne s’identifie pas comme l’auteur, au lieu de cela il s’appelle l’ancien. Le contenu de 2 Jean ressemble beaucoup au contenu que l’on trouve dans l’Evangile selon Jean. Ceci est spécialement évident dans la manière avec laquelle il souligne le commandement de Jésus de s’aimer les uns les autres et dans la façon dont il associe aimer Jésus en suivant ses commandements (1 :5-6, Jean 15 :9-10). On pense que Jean a écrit l’Evangile selon Jean et les trois lettres de 1 Jean, 2 Jean et 3 Jean quand il vivait à Ephèse.
Jean adresse cette lettre à la dame qui a été choisie et à ses enfants. Il est probable qu’il faisait référence à une église. Le but de Jean en écrivant cette lettre était d’encourager l’église et de les mettre en garde contre de faux enseignants.
Résumé
1. Jean introduit la lettre en disant pour qui elle est destinée et en saluant ses destinataires (1 :1-3).
2. Ensuite il encourage l’église et leur rappelle le plus grand commandement (1 :4-6).
3. Puis il les met en garde contre les faux enseignants (1 :7-11)
4. Jean termine sa lettre en transmettant les salutations des croyants de l’église où il vit (1 :12-13).
Translation: Swahili
Utangulizi wa kitabu cha 2 Yohana
Barua ya 2 Yohana iliandikwa na Mtume Yohana katika mwaka 90 baada ya kuzaliwa Yesu Kristo. Yohana hajitambulishi yeye mwenyewe kama mwandishi, lakini badala yake anajiita mzee. Mambo yaliyomo ndani ya barua ya 2 Yohana yanafanana kwa karibu sana na yale yaliyomo ndani ya Injili kama ilivyoandikwa na Yohana. Hili laonekana wazi hasa pale anaposisitiza amri ya Yesu ya kupendana, na namna anavyolinganisha kumpenda Yesu na kuzifuata amri zake (2 Yohana 1:5-6, Yohana 15:9-10). Inaaminiwa kwamba Yohana aliandika Injili kama ilivyoandikwa na Yohana pamoja na barua zake tatu yaani 1 Yohana, 2 Yohana, na 3 Yohana wakati alipokuwa akiishi katika mji wa Efeso.
Yohana aliiandika barua hii kwa mwanamke mteule pamoja na watoto wake. Kwa maneno hayo alikuwa anamaanisha kanisa. Kisha akasema barua hiyo ilikuwa kwa ajili ya waumini wote. Kusudi la Yohana la kuiandika barua hii lilikuwa ni kulitia moyo kanisa na pia kulitahadharisha na vitisho vya waalimu wa uwongo.
Muhtasari:
1. Yohana anaitambulisha barua yake na kueleza walengwa wake ni nani na kisha anawasalimu
2. (2 Yohana 1:1-3).
3. Kisha analihamasisha kanisa na kuwakumbusha kuhusu amri iliyo kuu kushinda zote (2 Yohana 1:4-6).
4. Halafu anawaonya wajihadhari na waalimu wa uwongo (2 Yohana 1:7-11).
5. Yohana anahitimisha barua kwa kutoa salamu za kuwaaga (2 Yohana 1:12-13).
The Hebrew in Exodus 12:22 that is translated as “touch” or “strike” in English is translated in Kutu as imizeni or “sprinkle.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
