Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezra 5:7:
Kupsabiny: “They wrote like this: Let these news reach king Darius. We greet you with happiness.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “They sent a letter written like this — "May the Great King Darius be Salutations!” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “But God watched-over the leaders/[lit. heads] of the Jews, so Tatenai, Shetar Bozenai, and their companions who were officials of the province in the west of Eufrates decided that they just would- not -stop the building of the temple until they could-hear-news from King Darius about this and could-receive his reply. This is the letter that they sent to King Darius: ‘Beloved King Darius, ‘May your (sing.) situation be good.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “This is what they wrote: ‘King Darius, we hope that things are going well for you!” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Some languages do not have a concept of kingship and therefore no immediate equivalent for the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as “king” in English. Here are some (back-) translations:
Ninia Yali: “big brother with the uplifted name” (source: Daud Soesilio in Noss 2007, p. 175)
Nyamwezi: mutemi: generic word for ruler, by specifying the city or nation it becomes clear what kind of ruler (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Ghomála’: Fo (“The word Fo refers to the paramount ruler in the kingdoms of West Cameroon. He holds administrative, political, and religious power over his own people, who are divided into two categories: princes (descendants of royalty) and servants (everyone else).” (Source: Michel Kenmogne in Theologizing in Context: An Example from the Study of a Ghomala’ Christian Hymn))
Faye Edgerton retells how the term in Navajo (Dinė) was determined:
“[This term was] easily expressed in the language of Biblical culture, which had kings and noblemen with their brilliant trappings and their position of honor and praise. But leadership among the Navajos is not accompanied by any such titles or distinctions of dress. Those most respected, especially in earlier days, were their headmen, who were the leaders in raids, and the shaman, who was able to serve the people by appealing for them to the gods, or by exorcising evil spirits. Neither of these made any outward show. Neither held his position by political intrigue or heredity. If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior. If the shaman failed many times in his healing ceremonies, it was considered that he was making mistakes in the chants, or had lost favor with the gods, and another was sought. The term Navajos use for headman is derived from a verb meaning ‘to move the head from side to side as in making an oration.’ The headman must be a good orator, able to move the people to go to war, or to follow him in any important decision. This word is naat’áanii which now means ‘one who rules or bosses.’ It is employed now for a foreman or boss of any kind of labor, as well as for the chairman of the tribal council. So in order to show that the king is not just a common boss but the highest ruler, the word ‘aláahgo, which expresses the superlative degree, was put before naat’áanii, and so ‘aláahgo naat’áanii ‘anyone-more-than-being around-he-moves-his-head-the-one-who’ means ‘the highest ruler.’ Naat’áanii was used for governor as the context usually shows that the person was a ruler of a country or associated with kings.”
They sent him a report, in which was written as follows: This verse formally introduces the report, that is, “the letter” (verse 6). Compare Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “They sent to him a message in which it was written:….” Good News Translation slightly indents the left margin of the letter in verses 7-17 to set it apart from the surrounding text.
The letter opens in the usual formulaic manner, here citing to whom it is addressed, To Darius the king. See the comments on Ezra 4.11 for openings to letters.
All peace: This greeting is not found in other Aramaic letters (see the comment on “greeting” in Ezra 4.17), but according to Blenkinsopp (1988, page 121), it may be the short form for the usual greeting “the health [peace] of your lordship may the God of heaven seek after [it] exceedingly at all times” as is found in Aramaic papyri. A wide variety of translations is found for this greeting. Good News Translation expresses an appropriate interpretation of a wish for peace for a king: “may you rule in peace.” Contemporary English Version uses a very casual contemporary English expression: “we wish you the best!” However, this is not suitable style in a formal context. Revised English Bible has “All greetings,” while Bible en français courant says “all our wishes for prosperity!” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch says “We offer you our most humble greetings and wishes for blessings!” Translators should use a similar extravagant and yet formal greeting in the receptor language.
Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Ezra. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
In the report/letter, it was written like this: -or-
It said:
5:6a-7a (reordered)
¶ Governor Tattenai, Shethar-Bozenai and their fellow leaders/administrators of ⌊the province⌋ west of the Euphrates River wrote a letter to Darius, the chief/ruler. This is what it said:
5:7b To King Darius: All peace.
¶ To great/honorable King Darius. ⌊May you have⌋ all/total peace. -or-
¶ “Your Majesty Darius, ⌊we wish you⌋ peace in everything you do.
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