Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 8:24:
Kupsabiny: “I was there before the sea/ocean appeared, at the time before the springs/holes of water were seen.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Before the oceans came to exist, before water flowed on the earth, I was born.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “He willed that I am here already since in the beginning. I was/am already there even the world is/was not (here) yet: the sea, the springs, the mountains, the fields/farms, and even the dusts.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “I-already-existed when there was still not-existing the ocean and springs,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
“When there were no depths I was brought forth”: “Depths” here most likely refers to the oceans rather than to the waters that existed in Gen 1.2 “when darkness was on the face of the deep.” “Brought forth” is literally “I was born.” In some translations this is expressed as “I arrived.”
“When there were no springs abounding with water”: “Springs” or fountains refers to water that rises to the surface of the ground and flows. “Abounding” is literally “made heavy.” This line may be rendered, for example, “When there were no flowing springs” or “. . . no springs flowing with water.”
Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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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.
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
24a When there were nowatery depths, I was brought forth,
24b when nosprings were overflowing with water.
8:24a–b
When there were no watery depths…when no springs were overflowing with water: These clauses both specify the time when Wisdom was given birth. It was when there were still no watery depths (literally, “depths,” as in the New Revised Standard Version) or springs. In other words, it was before “oceans” and “springs” were created. The springs are described as overflowing with water. Choose an expression in your language that refers to plentiful or abundant water.
8:24a
I was brought forth: This clause is a figurative way to indicate that the LORD brought Wisdom into existence. Many English versions, such as the New Jerusalem Bible, translate this as:
I was born (New Jerusalem Bible)
The same verb is repeated in 8:25 for the sake of emphasis. You are encouraged to use the same expression in both verses if such repetition will also convey emphasis in your language.
The clause I was brought forth is passive. If stative or passive clauses are not natural in your language, you may need to use an active clause. For example:
the LORD gave birth to me
In languages where such an expression would be understood as some kind of literal birth, it may be clearer to translate this as:
the LORD created me
-or-
the LORD caused me to exist
General Comment on 8:24a–b
In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. See the Display for 8:24a–b (combined/reordered).
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