complete verse (Deuteronomy 28:44)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 28:44:

  • Kupsabiny: “They shall lend you things and you shall have nothing to lend to them. They shall be heads/leaders but you shall be tails.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “They will give you loans. But you will not be able to give loans to them. They will become the head, you, however, will become the tail.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They are the ones to-lend to you (plur.) and you (plur.) will- not -lend to them. They are the ones to-reign-over you (plur.) and you (plur.) are just followers.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “They will have money to lend to you, but you will not have any money to lend to them.
    They will be superior to you, and you will be inferior to them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 28:43-44

Natural conditions will be reversed: the resident aliens (see 1.16) will become more prosperous and powerful than the Israelites.

Shall mount above you higher and higher: they will become ever richer and more powerful. We may also express this as “foreigners who live in your land will become richer and more powerful.”

You shall come down lower and lower: this verse presents a picture that is the opposite of verses 12b-13; the Israelites will decline in power and wealth. Contemporary English Version has “while you become poor and powerless.”

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 .