feel (terror / pain / suffering / anxiety / thirst)

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “feel (terror, pain, suffering, anxiety, thirst)” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) in association with the verb kumva or “hear,” “as if the feeling is heard in the ear.”

In Psalm 115:7 the stand-alone “feel” is also translated as “hear.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

See also angry

complete verse (2 Corinthians 12:10)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 12:10:

  • Uma: “So, if I am weak, I am glad about it. I am glad if I am disparaged or persecuted, or encounter difficulties or suffering because of my following Kristus. For if I am weak, that is when I am strong.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “And that is the reason why I am pleased/content with whatever comes to me, whether my body is weak, or whether I am made ashamed, or whether I am in difficulties, or whether I am persecuted or if I am in troubles. All this I am able to endure because Isa Almasi is already my Leader. Because if I am weak the truth is that I am strong.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And my lack of wisdom, the way people speak in rejection against me, and so harmful things to me, and the difficulties and the hardships because of my faith in Christ, these cause me happiness because I know that when I don’t have any wisdom, that the wisdom which Christ gives me is very big.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore when I experience my weakness, other hardships or frightful happenings because of Cristo, I am content. I am also content if someone shames-me or hardships-me because of Cristo. Because when I feel my weakness, I am also strong because of his-strengthening me.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Yes indeed, I certainly am happy-about-it if I am weak, belittled/insulted, severely-hardshipped, caused-difficulty, or (if) I am in dire circumstances because of my serving Cristo. For whenever I am weak or have no ability of my own, I suddenly/unexpectedly become-strong/healthy again because of the strength and ability that Cristo freely-gives me.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “So then I rejoice when I suffer pain. There are times when I am insulted, there are times when I don’t have what I need to eat, there are times when people are against me, there are times when I suffer for the work I do for Christ, yet I rejoice. When it is seen that I am not strong, then it is clearly seen that it is Christ who strengthens me in what I do.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 12:10

For the sake of Christ: in the Greek text these words come at the end of the list of troubles (as in Good News Translation), but the expression actually modifies the verb. The idea is that, if the problems listed are experienced for the sake of Christ, then Paul is satisfied.

Then: this transition word, often rendered “therefore” (New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, and Translator’s New Testament), is omitted by Good News Translation, but translators will probably want to retain it in most languages, since it shows the logical connection between what has been said and what Paul says in this verse. Anchor Bible has “so,” and New International Version translates it “that is why….”

Insults: perhaps the meaning of the Greek word here is “difficulties” which are caused by being mistreated. Translator’s New Testament, in fact, translates the word “ill-treatment,” and New American Bible has “mistreatment.”

Hardships: see comment on 6.4.

Persecutions: for Paul the persecutions were for religious reasons. Compare Mark 4.17 and Rom 8.35, where the same word is used.

Calamities: see comment on 6.4.

This series of five nouns may be more naturally rendered as verbal expressions in some languages: “I am happy when I lack strength, when people insult me, when I am in need, when people persecute me, and when I suffer.”

For when I am weak, then I am strong: considered superficially, this statement is actually a contradiction in terms. The meaning, of course, is that Paul has real, spiritual strength just when he acknowledges his weakness and dependence on Christ. It will, however, be unwise to make too much explicit in translating this brief but powerful paradox. If readers are likely to misunderstand it, perhaps a footnote is in order.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .