Most High

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin, Ge’ez, or Greek that is translated as “(God) the Most High” or “Most High God” in English is translated in various way:

  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “he the completely glorified God”
  • San Mateo del Mar Huave: “Father God who is high in heaven”
  • Teutila Cuicatec: “God who has such tremendous authority”
  • Chichimeca-Jonaz: “he who is the native of the highest place”
  • Palantla Chinantec: “the Big God Himself”
  • Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “God who has authority over all”
  • Estado de México Otomi: “most exalted God”
  • Isthmus Mixe: “God who is in heaven”
  • Teutila Cuicatec: “God who has a great rule” (source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
  • Sa’a: “God, the Surpassing One” (source: Carl Gross)
  • Elhomwe: Mulluku Muullupalli or “God the Great” (source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • Chichewa: Wammwambamwamba: A name of God. While this word is difficult to translate into English, its sense implies that God is highly above everything in his power and greatness. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Sirach 38:34

But they keep stable the fabric of the world is literally “But they solidify the creation of the world/age.” This is interpreted in slightly different ways, but they mean roughly the same. It means that these common people who do ordinary work are the foundation of civilization. We are dealing here not with the physical world, but with the structures of human society, of civilization. Good News Translation expresses this in idiomatic English. We could also say “But the work they do helps everyone to live a civilized life.”

And their prayer is in the practice of their trade: This can be interpreted, as with Good News Translation, to mean that these ordinary people, who have no time for study, do their work, and this, for them, is as good as prayer. It can also be interpreted to mean that when they pray, they are concerned only about their business. It seems to us that this latter interpretation is out of keeping with the thrust of verses 31-34 and we suggest following Good News Translation. A footnote giving the alternative, as in Good News Translation, is optional.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Sirach. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.