Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Job 35:10:
Kupsabiny: “But there is no one who cries to God, who comforts people when trouble comes,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “But no one will speak like this, "Where is my God, Creator of the Universe, Who even gives [me] songs in the night,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “But they do- not -call upon God who created them and give them strength in times of difficulty.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “But no one/none of them calls out to God, saying ‘Why does God, my creator, not help me? He should enable me to sing joyful songs, instead of very sad songs, during the night.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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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 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, kudasaru (下さる), a respectful form of kureru (くれる) or “give” is used.
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 usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme rare (られ) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, o-rare-ru (おられる) or “is/be present” is used.
Elihu says the oppressed only call for relief from their oppressors. The point he wishes to make in verses 10 and 11 is that the cries of the oppressed are not heard because they do not call out to God. Verses 10 and 11 contain long rhetorical questions which may need to be recast as statements, as in Good News Translation.
But none says, ‘Where is God my Maker…?’: God my Maker is translated by Good News Translation as “God, their Creator” and by Bible en français courant as “God, who made me.” Revised Standard Version and others begin the quotation here and continue it through verse 11. Revised Standard Version follows the Hebrew form closely. Good News Translation translates the singular none as “they,” which is more natural in English. If the translator follows the pattern of Revised Standard Version, this line may be rendered, for example, “But no one asks, ‘Where is my creator?’ ” or “But no one calls on God his creator to save him.”
Who gives songs in the night is generally understood in the sense that God enables people to sing even when they are surrounded by darkness. Nevertheless the word translated songs has been adjusted or interpreted in many different ways. Dhorme thinks it refers to “thunder,” as in Psalm 29.3. Others take it to mean “lights,” “star constellations,” and Pope says the Hebrew root should be associated with a similar Arabic root meaning “violent, courageous, mighty,” and so should be translated “strength or protection.” Rowley observes wisely “It is a pity to rob Elihu of a poetic line when he creates one.” However, similar lines are seen in Psalm 42.8; 77.6. Good News Translation has “hope in their darkest hours.” If songs in the night is not sufficiently meaningful, “songs that bring hope in their darkest hours” may be better. Or we may translate, for example, “who enables people to sing in times of great trouble.”
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 .
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