justice

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and Latin that is translated as “justice” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that describes the quality or principle of fairness, righteousness, and impartiality in treating other people. A literal back-translation of the signs are “FOLLOW(God is implied) ACTIONS, DECISIONS JUST-RIGHT”. A more idiomatic back-translation would be: “actions and decisions are right/fitting/just in accordance to God’s will.” The movement in the signs itself helps to indicate that this is a noun, not a verb. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Justice” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Translation commentary on Susanna 1:9

If integrated into the book of Daniel: 13.9.

They perverted their minds … may be rendered “They desired Susanna so much that….” New American Bible has “They suppressed their consciences….”

Turned away their eyes from means “they lost interest in” (so Good News Translation).

Looking to Heaven: Revised Standard Version capitalizes Heaven to indicate that it is a way of referring to God without using the word. (New Revised Standard Version also does it in verse 35; compare 1 Macc 3.18; Luke 15.18). Contemporary English Version makes this clear with “They even stopped praying to God.”

Remembering righteous judgments: New English Bible says “[they] forgot the claims of morality,” which is striking. However, it is probably closer to the meaning to say “they forgot their responsibility as judges” (similarly Good News Translation).

Their minds and eyes are perverted. Rather than giving thought to legal matters, they are obsessed with Susanna. Rather than lifting their eyes in prayer, they stealthily watched for Susanna.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Shorter Books of the Deuterocanon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2006. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.