The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is typically translated in English as “joy” or “happiness” is translated in the HausaCommon Language Bible idiomatically as farin ciki or “white stomach.” In some cases, such as in Genesis 29:11, it is also added for emphatic purposes.
Other languages that use the same expression include Southern Birifor (pʋpɛl), Dera (popolok awo), Reshe (ɾipo ɾipuhã). (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 6:10:
Uma: “Many are our (excl.) difficulties, but our (excl.) hearts are always happy. We(excl.) are poor, but we (excl.) [emphatic] are the ones who bring blessings to many people. It looks like we (excl.) don’t have anything, but actually we (excl.) have everything.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Even though we (excl.) are troubled/sad nevertheless we (excl.) are always glad. Even though we (excl.) are poor nevertheless because of our (excl.) teaching many people receive true riches. We (excl.) have no wealth here in the world but everything belongs to us (excl.).” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “We have many problems, yet we are always rejoicing. It’s as if we are very poor, yet by means of us, many people are becoming rich forever. It’s as if we have no possessions and yet we’ve come to own everything which God gives.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “We (excl.) have times-of-sorrow, but our (excl.) happiness still remains-constant. We (excl.) are moreover poor, but many are those whom we (excl.) make-rich. We (excl.) also have no possessions on this earth, but we (excl.) nevertheless own everything.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “(Our) work really is grief-producing, but is it not so that our (excl.) happiness is immoveable? It’s like we (excl.) are extremely poor but there are many whom we (excl.) are being able to make rich with riches that can’t be removed. Here in the world we (excl.) don’t have any possessions of our (excl.) own but all of the good in heaven has been secured for us (excl.).” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Even though my heart feels sad for what I pass through, yet my thought are joyful. Even though I am poor, yet this word which I speak does good for many people. Even though I don’t have any possessions, yet concerning all that there is in existence, all works for good for me.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Sorrowful … rejoicing: once again Paul uses a pair of contradictory terms and maintains that both are true. It may be more natural in some languages to reverse the order: “we are always happy, even in times of suffering” (Contemporary English Version).
As poor … as having nothing: the words poor and having nothing should probably be taken in a literal sense.
Making many rich: this is figurative language, as are the words yet possessing everything. Possessing everything should be understood in the same sense as Paul’s words in 1 Cor 3.21-23. Christians belong to Christ, and to have Christ is to have all that matters. Through his apostolic ministry Paul was able to bring God’s blessings to many people. Knox translates “beggars, that bring riches to many; disinherited, and the world is ours.”
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 .
⌊We (excl.)also commend ourselves⌋ when ⌊people say that⌋ we are sorrowful, but we always rejoice,
-or-
when ⌊people think of us⌋ as sad but we always rejoice,
-or-
when ⌊people regard⌋ ⌊us⌋ as being sad and yet we always rejoice ⌊in the Lord⌋,
6:10b poor, yet making many rich;
when ⌊people say that⌋ ⌊we⌋ are poor, yet ⌊we⌋ make many people rich,
-or-
when ⌊people think of⌋ ⌊us⌋ as having no money, but ⌊we⌋ make many rich ⌊in God’s promises⌋,
-or-
when ⌊people regard⌋ ⌊us⌋ as poor and yet ⌊we⌋ make many rich ⌊because we told them about Jesus and they believed⌋,
6:10c having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
when ⌊people say that⌋ ⌊we⌋ have nothing, yet ⌊we⌋ possess everything.
-or-
when ⌊people think of⌋ ⌊us⌋ as having nothing ⌊worthwhile⌋, but we own everything ⌊of importance to God⌋.
-or-
when ⌊people regard⌋ ⌊us⌋ as having nothing, yet ⌊we⌋ possess all ⌊that God has for us⌋.
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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