justice

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

complete verse (Job 19:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Job 19:7:

  • Kupsabiny: “Even if I complained that I have been squeezed/suppressed,
    no one is listening to me.
    I am shouting (hoarsely),
    and there is no one who does me right.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Look! I cry out ‘Injustice’, but no one responds.
    Even though [I] beg for help there is no justice for me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘I call to ask for help, but no one answers me. I ask for justice, but no one gives this to me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘I cry out, ‘Help me!’,
    but no one answers me.
    I call out loudly, but there is no one, not even God, who acts fairly toward me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Job 19:7

Behold, I cry out, ‘Violence!’: for Behold see 4.18; 13.15. As Revised Standard Version translates, Job cries out or shouts the word Violence which is used also in 16.17. Here Violence is used as in Jeremiah 20.8, “For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, ‘Violence and destruction!’ ” In verse 7 Job’s shout is equivalent to the cry “Help!” New English Bible translates “Murder!” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “They are killing me!” Good News Translation‘s statement “I protest his violence” is subdued and lacking in impact. The line may also be expressed, for example, “ ‘Look,’ I shout, ‘Save me!’ ” or as a condition: “If I cry out ‘Stop!’ ” “Even if I cry out ‘I’m being attacked!’ ” But I am not answered translates the passive, which must often be expressed as in Good News Translation “No one is listening,” or Bible en français courant “Nobody answers me.”

I call aloud, but there is no justice: Good News Translation does not repeat the words I call. Aloud emphasizes the parallel I cry in line a, but it may be better rendered by being more specific, as New English Bible “If I appeal for help,” or “If I shout for help.” No justice is poetically compressed to say that there is no one to do justice, to do the right thing for Job. There is no justice may be rendered, for example, “nobody treats me fairly,” “nobody does what is right for me,” “there is no one to judge what is right,” or “no one stands up to decide what is fair.”

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 .