complete verse (Deuteronomy 28:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 28:19:

  • Kupsabiny: “You shall be cursed when you go for a journey and when you return home.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “A curse will fall upon you when you come in and when you go out.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He will-curse everything you (plur.) do.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “He will curse you everywhere—when you go out of your houses and when you come into your houses.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 28:18 - 28:19

These verses are the opposites of verses 4 and 6. Verse 18 is not quite as full as verse 4; it does not include “and the fruit of your beasts.”

A possible alternative translation model for these verses is:

• Yahweh will punish you by giving you few children and poor crops. Your cattle and sheep won’t produce many young. He will make you fail [or, be unsuccessful] in everything you do.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .