complete verse (Romans 3:14)

Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 3:14:

  • Uma: “‘Their words are all disparagement and cursing others.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “They always curse their companions.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “They curse people with things that are very painful to hear.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “They are continually showing their hatred and anger in their words.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Only evil they speak against people, never do they speak good.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

For the Old Testament quote, see Psalm 10:7.

Translation commentary on Romans 3:14

This quotation comes from Psalm 10.7.

Their mouths are full of bitter curses may be equivalent in some languages to “they constantly speak bitter curses” or “they fill their mouths with curses which are bitter.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 3:14

3:14

Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness: The phrase full of indicates that people do something often. These people were always cursing and they were always bitter. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

their speech is full of cursing and bitterness (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
They only curse and speak bitterly

cursing: This word refers to a person asking God or an evil spirit to cause something bad to happen to another person.

bitterness: This word indicates that the words of these people were resentful, angry, and spiteful. Here are other ways to translate this word:

bitter resentment (God’s Word)
-or-
spite

General Comment on 3:14

These words are similar to the words found in Psalm 10:7.

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Commentaire sur la traduction de la lettre aux Romains 3.14

Ce verset qui cite le Ps 10.7 d’après l’ancienne version grecque (Ps 9.28 Septante) parle encore de la bouche et du pouvoir destructrice de la parole.

leur bouche est pleine de malédictions et d’amertume est litt. « dont la bouche malédiction et amertume est remplie ». Cette fois, c’est le mot général bouche qui se trouve ici (voir gosier, langue et lèvres, Rom 3.13).

est pleine montre que le parler de ces gens est caractérisé par des malédictions et d’autres mots destructeurs. On pourrait dire « Lorsqu’ils parlent, ce n’est que des malédictions et des paroles qui blessent » ou « ils prononcent constamment… », ou « leur bouche est remplie de… ». Mais comme ailleurs, les traducteurs sont encouragés à chercher des expressions poétiques, au lieu de traiter ces lignes comme celle d’une narration ou d’un discours argumentatif.

malédictions est une déclaration de mal envers quelqu’un. C’est l’opposé de la bénédiction. Presque toutes les langues auront un mot ou une expression qui conviendra. D’après la structure grecque, le mot amertume peut qualifier le mot malédiction, ainsi « leur bouche est pleine de malédictions amères » (Bible en français courant) ou « ils prononcent constamment des malédictions amères ». Mais certaines versions rendent ce mot à part, comme la Traduction œcuménique de la Bible. Voir aussi la Parole de Vie qui parle « de paroles blessantes ».

Source: Margot, Jean-Claude & Zogbo, Lynell. La lettre aux Romains – Manuel de traduction – Commentaire linguistique et exégétique de la Bible. Alliance biblique universelle, 2021.