The Greek that is typically translated as “eternity,” “forever,” or “forever and ever” in English are translated in Mairasi as “mashed out infinitely.” Lloyd Peckham explains: “Bark cloth required pounding. It got longer and wider as it got pounded. Similarly, life gets pounded or mashed to lengthen it into infinity. Tubers also get mashed into the standard way of serving the staple food, like the fufu of Uganda, or like poi of Hawaii. It spreads out into infinity.” (Source: Lloyd Peckham)
In Lisu the phrase “forever and ever” is translated as ꓕꓲꓽ ꓞꓲꓼ ꓕꓲ ꓑ — thi tsi thi pa, verbatim translated as “one – lifetime – one – world.” This construction follows a traditional four-couplet construct in oral Lisu poetry that is usually in the form ABAC or ABCB. (Source: Arrington 2020, p. 57f.)
See also forever, eternal life and salvation.
Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 16:9:
- Nyongar: “Then Jesus said, ‘And so I tell you, use your money so people become your friends, people of this world, so when you are moneyless, you will be able to enter the home that lasts for ever.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
- Uma: “‘That is why I say to you: We must use riches in this world to help others, so that when the riches of this world are no longer useful, we will be received well in the dwelling-place that stays/remains until forever.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “‘Therefore I tell you,’ said Isa, ‘use your wealth here in this world for doing good so that when you are going to die and you don’t need your wealth anymore you will be received there in the place where you will stay forever.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Therefore,’ said Jesus, ‘I say to you that you should use your wealth here on the earth in order to help the poor, so that when the times comes in the future, when you can no longer use your possessions, God will reward you in Heaven.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “‘So I advise you then that you use your riches on this earth to make-friends of your fellows so that when the day arrives when there is no use for money, he/they (combination pronoun–3rd pers. non-focus to 2nd pers. focus) will receive you in heaven where-you -will-stay forever.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “Well now/today, I am the one who says (this) to you who are my disciples. Use your money or whatever assets/possessions wisely/properly. Use it in the work of God, so that you will be received happily in heaven by those who have been able to get there because of this good use by you of your assets/possessions.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)