The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and Latin that is translated as “justice” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that describes the quality or principle of fairness, righteousness, and impartiality in treating other people. A literal back-translation of the signs are “FOLLOW(God is implied) ACTIONS, DECISIONS JUST-RIGHT”. A more idiomatic back-translation would be: “actions and decisions are right/fitting/just in accordance to God’s will.” The movement in the signs itself helps to indicate that this is a noun, not a verb. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Justice” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Habakkuk 1:7:
Kupsabiny: “(They) are rude and amazingly fierce. They like to raise themselves up.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “They are dreaded and feared people. They are a law to themselves and do whatever they like.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “They are- greatly -feared by the people. They do what they want and no-one can-stop/prevent them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “They will cause-to-be-afraid the collective-people in other countries. Because of their arrogance, what they desire to do is what they turn-into law.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
English: “Suddenly those whom you oppressed/treated cruelly will cause you to tremble, and they will take away all the things that you have stolen from them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Verses 7-11 give a vivid description of the military power and arrogant attitude of the Babylonians.
The Babylonians are described as Dread and terrible. Good News Translation expresses this in a more personal way as “They spread fear and terror.” One may also translate this clause as “They cause people everywhere to shake with fear.” In some languages, however, “terror” is described idiomatically; for example, “They cause the hearts of people in countries everywhere to shrink so that their bodies tremble.” In still other languages it may be necessary to state this from the opposite point of view and say “People in other nations fear them very much” or “People in other nations are so afraid of them that their bodies tremble.”
The second half of the verse is not very clear in Revised Standard Version. The meaning is that the Babylonians do not acknowledge any other power greater than themselves, and so they set their own rules for the treatment of other people. (Compare “whose own might is their god” in verse 11.) Dignity in this context refers to “pride.” Good News Translation expresses this in rather idiomatic English as “in their pride they are a law to themselves.” Another way to express this clause is “They are so proud that they feel (or, consider) that anything they do is right and lawful,” or one can say “They are so proud that they feel (or, consider) that nothing they do is wrong or unlawful.”
Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. & Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on the Book of Habakkuk. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1989. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
They spread fear and terror. (Good News Translation) -or-
⌊Everyone is⌋ very afraid of them.
1:7b from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty.
They recognize only their own justice because they are very proud. -or-
They themselves proudly ⌊decide⌋ what is just/right. -or-
They are so proud that they think that everything they do is just/right. -or-
They do not recognize any laws but their own. That is how proud they are. (New International Reader’s Version)
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