Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 16:8:

• Noongar: “‘Then the boss praised his worker because he had thought quickly and prepared for what would happen. Because this world’s people know this world’s things and they know the way to use these things. In this world, they are wiser than the people of the light.'” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
• Uma: “‘When the rich man heard what that servant of his with bent behavior was doing, he just praised him, because he was clever hunting for an idea/plan so that his life would be good. Because people who do not know the Lord God are smarter/more clever arranging their lives with their fellow companions, than the cleverness/smartness of people who are in the light of the Lord God arranging their lives in the future.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
• Yakan: “When the master heard what this deceiving servant of his had done, he praised him yet because he was wise. He said, he knows to think for his future.’ Then Isa said, ‘The people who do not follow/obey God are wiser than the people who follow/obey God, for they know how to cause their companions to profit for their own good.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
• Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then,’ said Jesus, ‘when that master of his heard what that servant had done, he said, ‘Hey! He is really wise, because he’s preparing now ahead of time his livelihood in the future.’ And Jesus said, ‘Those people who will not obey the word of God, they really know how to make things better for themselves. But as for the people who are followers of God, apparently they don’t really know the way in order that they might be better off in the future there in Heaven.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
• Kankanaey: “‘When his master found-out, he praised that employee for his trickiness in thinking of his livelihood. Because it’s true that the people who don’t believe, they are wiser in doing-business-with their companions than those whose minds are enlightened,’ said Jesus.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
• Tagbanwa: “When that master of his observed, he spoke well of that deceiving manager of his, not because of that deception of his, but on the contrary, because he showed he could use his head. Because today, in this first life, the people who have no belief in God really know very well how to plan for their own benefit, much more so than the people of God.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
• German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999): “Then the master praised the steward, for although the instigation of forgery was an offense, he had not acted foolishly. The children of the world are often clever in their dealings with one another, the children of God or the children of light are stupid in comparison.”