complete verse (Job 13:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Job 13:20:

  • Kupsabiny: “God, let us agree on two things,
    so that I will not hide myself from you.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Oh God, give me just these two things,
    I will not hide from you. ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘O God, give these two things to me and I will- not -hide from you:” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “’I am requesting you to do two things for me;
    if you do them, I will not hide from you/come and stand in front of you.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

face (of God) (Japanese honorifics)

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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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. When the referent is God, the “divine” honorific prefix mi- (御 or み) can be used, as in mi-kao (御顔) or “face (of God)” in the referenced verses.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

respectful form of "do" (nasaru)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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 to do this is through the usage of lexical honorific forms, i.e., completely different words, as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, nasaru (なさる), the respectful form of suru (する) or “do,” is used.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Japanese benefactives (-naide)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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 benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. Here, -naide (ないで) or “do not (for their sake)” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).”

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Job 13:20

Only grant two things to me is literally “Two things only do not do to me.” Job addresses God in verse 20, and his two requests are spelled out in verse 21. These are conditions which Job requires to ensure himself a fair hearing. If these requests are granted, Job says, then I will not hide myself from thy face, meaning that he will appear before God to hear God’s accusations against him. From thy face means “from you” or “from God.” In translation it may be necessary to rearrange verse 20 so that line b is stated first, as a condition, and then line a as an “if” clause; for example, “I will not hide myself from you, God, if you will give me two things,” or stated positively, “I will appear before you, God, if you will grant me two requests.” In some languages the “if” clause must precede the consequence; for example, “If you will grant me two requests, God, I will come into your presence.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .