complete verse (Psalm 14:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 14:1:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “A fool says in his heart,
    ‘There is no God.’
    Such (people) are evil and their deeds are abominable;
    there is no one who does good (things).” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “In their hearts fools say — ‘There is no God.’
    Their minds are evil.
    They have been doing only repulsive work.
    There are none who do good work.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “The ones (who are) foolish/a-little-crazy said to themselves/[lit. their own selves],
    ‘There-is-no God!’
    They (are) all wicked and what they do (is) detestable/loathsome.
    There-is-no-one of them who does good.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Foolish people continue to think like this: ‘Surely there is no God!’ They do excessively impure things. And not one of them does any good thing.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “A fool says in his heart that,
    ‘There is no God.’
    People are spoiled, and their matters are bad,
    there is nobody who does good matters.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mpumbavu anasema katika moyo anasema,
    ‘Hakuna Mungu.’
    Wameharibika wote, wanafanya mabaya,
    hakuna hata mmoja ambaye anafanya mazuri.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)