Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 90:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 90:4:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “For 1,000 years in your eyes
    they are like one day that has gone
    or like a small second at night.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “For You a thousand years is like one day,
    [like] yesterday gone by.
    It is like a short time in the night.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “One thousand years to us (excl.) is-like just a day to you that has-passed-by,
    or just a short hour in the night.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You see one thousand years
    to stay like only one day, that came and went,
    or they are the same like only one night.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kwa maana miaka 1,000 mbele yako,
    iko kama siku ya jana ambayo imepita,
    ni kama muda mfupi wa usiku.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “When you consider/think about time,
    1,000 years are as short as one day which passes;
    you consider that they are as short as a few hours in the night.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 90:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 90:5:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “You sweep people away in the sleep of death,
    they are like new morning grass,” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “You sweep people away like with flooding water.
    They are like a dream.
    They are like grass that sprouts in the morning.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (sing.) put an end to our (excl.) lives like a dream” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You give people to disappear quickly by death,
    it is like the grass that grow in the morning,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Unawazoa watu, wanapotea kama vile ndoto,
    ni kama vile majani ambayo yanaota asubuhi,” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You cause people suddenly to die;
    they live only a short time, like a dream lasts only a short time.
    They are like grass/ weeds that grow up.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 90:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 90:6:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “though in the morning fresh one sprout,
    when reaching the evening it dries and withers.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “In the morning it blossoms and flourishes (lit. comes up),
    but in the evening it dries and withers up.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “or like grass that springs-up and grows in the morning, but in the afternoon withers and dies.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “it grow in the morning and sprout with its flower,
    but instead by evening, it becomes dry.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “ambayo yanaota na kustawi,
    jioni yananyauka na kukauka.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “In the morning the grass sprouts and grows well,
    but in the evening it dries up and completely withers/dies.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 90:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 90:7:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “We have been completed with your wrath;
    and we have been threatened with your disdain.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “We are ruined by Your anger,
    we are terrified by Your great anger.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Your (sing.) anger against us (excl.) cause-us (excl.) -to-be-afraid and destroys (us).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “your anger finishes us,
    and we fear you so much.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Tunaangamizwa na hasira yako,
    kuchukia kwako kunatutetemesha.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Similarly, because of the sins that we have committed, you become angry with us; you terrify us and then you destroy us.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 90:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 90:8:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “You have put our iniquities before you,
    our hidden sins in the open before you.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “You keep our sins before You,
    You keep our hidden sins in a place where You can see them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (sing.) see our (excl.) sins.
    Even the sins that we (excl.) have-done in secret (is) clearly-seen/revealed in your (sing.) presence.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You know all our sin,
    even though we do also in secret,
    your light makes our sin to be known.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mabaya yetu umeyaweka mbele yako,
    ambayo tunafanya kwa siri, yako peupe kwako.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “It is as though you place our sins in front of you, you spread out even our secret sins where you can see them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 90:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 90:9:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “All our days end (while) they are under your wrath;
    we finish our years with groaning.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Your anger shortens our life span.
    Our lives come to an end with groaning.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “(It is) true that in your (sing.) anger we (excl.) will-die;
    our (excl.) lives will-end as-if just a sigh.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “In all of our days we find your anger,
    and we finish our years with groaning.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Uhai wetu unafupishwa na hasira yako,
    uhai wetu unakwisha kama vile pumzi.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Because you are angry with us, you cause our lives to end;
    the years that we live pass as quickly as a sigh does.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 90:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 90:10:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “The multiplicity of our days is 70,
    or 80 if we have strength;
    however all these years are of problems and anxiety,
    they end quickly and we fly far.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “We live for seventy years,
    if by strength it is possible, we might live for eighty years.
    But our time is spent in trouble and calamity
    because life comes quickly to an end
    and we fly away.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “The length of our (excl.) lives (is) 70 years, or 80 if we (excl.) (are) strong.
    But even our (excl.) best years (have) many troubles and difficulties.
    (It is) surely true that in not a-long-time our (excl.) lives will-end and we (excl.) will-be-gone.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Our years are seventy (70),
    or eighty (80), if we are strong.
    But instead these years are full of suffering and sadness,
    because they will disappear soon, and we die.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Miaka ya uhai wetu iko 70,
    iwapo tuko na nguvu, inakuwa 80.
    Lakini katika maisha yetu tunapita katika shida na mateso,
    siku zinapita mara moja, sisi tunapotea.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “People live for only 70 years;
    but if they are strong, some of them live for 80 years.
    But even during good years we have much pain and troubles;
    our lives soon end, and we die.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 90:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 90:11:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Who knows the power of your wrath?
    For your wrath is great like the respect which You deserves.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Who can know the power of Your anger?
    Does anyone know that Your wrath is as great
    as the fear You deserve.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “There-is-no-one who was-able-to-experience your (sing.) whole anger.
    And while our (excl.) knowledge about your (sing.) anger increases our (excl.) respect for you (sing.) also increases.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Who know the strength of your anger?
    For your anger is great,
    like the respect which we should give you.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ni nani anajua nguvu ya hasira yako?
    Ni nani anajali ambayo yanaleta ghadhabu yako?” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “No one has fully experienced the powerful things you can do to them when you are angry with them,
    and people are not afraid that you will greatly punish them because of your being angry with them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)