complete verse (Amos 8:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Amos 8:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “You-pl listen to this word you who suppress the poor/orphans and want to finish the weak completely from/in the land.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Listen, you who trample the needy
    and drive away the poor people away from the land.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “(You pl) listen to this, you (plur.) who oppress the poor-ones and try to destroy them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Amos 8:4

Hear this/Listen to this. Compare 3.1; 4.1; 5.1. This wording begins a concluding section in Amos (Appendix, Section 1.21) and in many languages should have a word like “so.”

You who trample upon the needy/you that trample on the needy. See 2.7. It may be better to indicate who the you refers to by saying “you merchants.”

And bring the poor of the land to an end/and to destroy the poor of the country. The destruction of the poor is the purpose of trampling on the needy, and this has to be made clear in the translation. Poor of the country may have to be rendered as “poor people in the country nation” or simply as “poor people.”

Quoted with permission from de Waard, Jan & Smalley, William A. A Handbook on Amos. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1979. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Amos 8:4

8:4 Hear this, you who trample the needy, who do away with the poor of the land,

Listen, ⌊you merchants⌋ who walk all over and destroy the poor in the land.
-or-
Pay attention, you ⌊business people⌋ who step all over and ruin the ⌊people⌋ who have nothing in your country.

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