The Greek that is translated in English as “greed” or “covetousness” is translated in Zande as “having a big heart for everything” (source: Jan Sterk).
In Tzeltal it is “small-hearted,” in Yucateco “desiring what other have,” and in Shipibo-Conibo “going crazy for things.” (Source: Nida, p. 133f.)
See also covet and extortioner / swindler.
The Greek that is translated as “sexual immorality” or “fornication” or similar is translated much more specifically in some languages. Morelos Nahuatl has “let a man not yield himself to another woman except only to his wife. Also let a woman not yield herself to another man except only to her husband” or in Lalana Chinantec as “not proper for them to mix themselves with other women. The same is true of women for other men also.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
In Low German as Hurenkram or “things related to prostitution (and/or sleeping around)” (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006).
Following are a number of back-translations of Colossians 3:5:
- Uma: “So, because we have died together with Kristus, we must release / let-go-of our behavior that is connected with our previous lives. Don’t commit-adultery, don’t behave wrong [implies sexual behavior], or do other deeds that are not fitting. Don’t desire what is evil, don’t desire someone else’s things. For people who behave like that, we can say that they are worshipping the thing that they desire.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “Therefore, my siblings who trust in Isa Almasi, don’t really give-in-to/indulge the greedy-desires of your body. Don’t ever commit adultery-fornication. Don’t lust (immoral/craving for opposite sex) and don’t do foolish things (immoral understood). Abandon your greedy-desire for the things here on earth. Because if you do not abandon your greedy-desire, it is like your greedy-desire is your god because that is what you always follow.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Therefore, brothers, don’t you permit that you obey your evil desires; don’t you do what is ugly or filthy, and don’t you allow that you have a desire for someone who is not your spouse. Abandon evil behavior and selfishness, because if we are selfish about possessions, it’s as if the true God has been replaced by possession here in our breath.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “Therefore then it is necessary that you turn-your-backs-on your former thoughts and customs which were evil such as immorality and other kinds of filthiness, all that the body wants that is evil, and greediness, for what a person is-greedy-for, that’s like his god.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “Therefore put far away from you all the disgusting customs here in the world like all kinds of immoral-behavior with one not your spouse, and no matter what custom, thinking, or desire which is disgusting. Drop now also the habit of being greedy, for if it’s possessions here in the world that we are always thinking about, it’s like possessions are what we are worshipping, no longer God.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “Therefore now, all the evil thought that are here on earth are what you must separate from. Do not commit adultery. Do not do any evil thing. Do not let evil rest in your thoughts. Concerning what you possess, do not want that more and more you gather. Because the people who do this are worshipping what they gather, it isn’t God whom they worship in their hearts.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)