Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)
The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).
For this verse, the Jarai translation uses the inclusive pronoun, including everyone.
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 43:26:
Kupsabiny: “Let us go to court go and tell me what I have done wrong towards you. Tell out your words so it can be seen if they are true.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Remind me what happened before. Let us go to court about these matters. Present your case to prove you are in the right.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Let- us (incl.) -think what is in the past; let- us (incl.) -settle (this). State your (sing.) case to prove that you (sing.) are innocent.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.
Here Yahweh challenges his people to defend themselves in court.
Put me in remembrance is literally “Remind me.” New Revised Standard Version says “Accuse me” since the form of the Hebrew verb here reflects the language of the law courts. The rest of the verse implies a court setting, so New Revised Standard Version‘s rendering fits well. Bible en français courant is similar with “Remind me of what you accuse me of.” Good News Translation has a rather free rendering with “Let us go to court.” A better model is “State what case you have against me.”
Let us argue together is one possible meaning of the Hebrew clause here. Another possible sense is “let us judge it together” (similarly New Jerusalem Bible). Translators may choose either meaning. Good News Translation is again rather free with “bring your accusation!”
Set forth your case, that you may be proved right: Yahweh tells the Israelites to present their case and prove they are right. Set forth your case is literally “you tell.” Revised Standard Version has added the implied idea of your case. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh adds “your version [of the case].” What is the case that God invites his people to bring? It is probably their complaint in 40.27 that he has abandoned them and not treated them justly (see the comments there). God gives his answer in the next chapter.
That you may be proved right is ironical since God will prove later they are wrong. The Hebrew verb rendered be proved right comes from a root meaning “to be just.” God is encouraging his people to present a convincing argument. This verb may be translated “be vindicated.” For the last line Bible en français courant is concise with “list the facts that prove you right.”
For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:
• Remind me of your accusation against me.
Let’s decide this matter together.
Tell me the issue you have,
so that you may be vindicated [or, proved right].
• Remind me of the case you have against me.
Let’s talk about this together.
Tell me about it,
so that you may be justified.
Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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