complete verse (Psalm 104:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 104:22:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “The sun comes out and they go back to hide;
    they return to sleep at the bottom of their caves.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “When the sun shines they go back
    and sleep in their caves.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “And when the sun rises they go-back to their hiding-place and there lie-down-with-legs-bent-underneath.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “When the sun appears, they go back
    go to sleep in their dens.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Jua wakati linatoka, wanaondoka,
    wanaenda kulala katika mapango yao.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “At dawn, they go back to their dens and lie down.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 104:22 - 104:23

, Ps At sunrise the young lions go back to their dens, where they stay the whole day (verse 22). Sunrise, also, is the time for people to start working, and they stay at it until sunset (verse 23). Verse 23 must not be related to verse 22 in such a way as to imply that people don’t leave their homes for work until the lions have gone back to their dens (because they are afraid the lions will attack them). This is hardly a problem in urban industrial societies, but it can be a real problem in some parts of the world.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .