Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 19:2:
Kupsabiny: “he Jonathan told David that, ‘Be careful, because my father is thinking of killing you. So hide yourself tomorrow morning in the grazing ground.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “So Jonathan told David, "My father, Saul, is trying to kill you." Then Jonathan said, "Tomorrow morning stay nicely alert, and having gone to a place where you can’t be seen, stay hidden!” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “so he warned David. He said, ‘My father is-looking/searching for an opportunity to-kill you (sing.), so [you (sing.)] be- very -careful/[lit. be-warned]. Tomorrow morning [you (sing.)] hide in a place in the field, and [you (sing.)] do- not -leave-from there.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “So he warned David, ‘My father Saul is seeking for a way to kill you. So be careful. Tomorrow morning go and find a place to hide in the field.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of benefactive constructions as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. Here, kakushiteite (隠していて) or “stay hidden” and chūishite (注意して) or “be on guard” are used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).”
And Jonathan told David: literally “And Jonathan told David, saying.” Good News Translation, following good English style, does not repeat proper nouns from the previous verse but uses pronouns instead. Other versions use verbs like “warned” (New International Version, New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible) and “informed” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), since the context clearly indicates that this was more than a casual conversation.
Therefore: the fact that Saul was looking for a way to kill David is logically linked by the word therefore to what Jonathan advises David to do. This connection is left implicit by Good News Translation, but in many languages it will be quite natural to include a word like “so” (New Jerusalem Bible).
Take heed to yourself: the wording of Revised Standard Version sounds a bit stilted, but translators should look for the most natural way of telling a person to “look out” or “pay attention” when they are in danger. New Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible are better with “be on guard,” and Revised English Bible is quite similar. Revised Standard Version does not translate the Hebrew particle of entreaty following the verb here. But it is reflected in New American Bible, “please be on your guard.” Fox similarly says “pray take-care.” See the comments on this particle in 2.36.
In the morning: this is not a warning about mornings in general but rather specifically about the morning of the next day. For this reason some versions say “tomorrow morning” (New International Version).
Stay in a secret place and hide yourself: these two imperatives are reversed by Good News Translation, since it is more logical to speak of hiding in a place before speaking of staying hidden there. Some translators may find it more natural to use a single verb phrase to translate these two imperatives: “stay hidden in a secret place.”
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.