patience / patient

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The Hebrew and Greek terms that are translated as “patient” or “patience” are translated in a variety of ways.

Eugene Nida (1952, p. 130) gives some examples:

“Peace is the quality of the soul; patience is the behavior of the soul. The Aymara of Bolivia have described patience well by the phrase ‘a waiting heart.’

“The Ngäbere of Panama describe patience in more vivid terms. They say that it is ‘chasing down your temper.’ The impatient person lets his temper run away with him. Patience requires one to “chase down his temper” and get it under control [see also Mairasi down below].

“The Yucateco describe patience as ‘strength not to fall.’ This seems to include almost more than patience, but it is important to note that this Yucateco translation recognizes that impatience means ‘falling.’ For some of us, who tend to take a certain secret pride in our impatience—describing it as energetic drive—it might be well to recognize that impatience is failure, while patience is strength.

“The San Blas Kuna in Panama use a rather strange phrase to depict patience. They say ‘not caring what happens.’ But this is not meant as condoning foolhardy indifference to life and danger. It reflects a kind of reckless confidence in God, a confidence not bred of desperation but of utter reliance. The patient person is not concerned about what happens; he is willing to wait in confidence.”

In Mairasi, the phrase that is employed is “stop (our) anger” (source: Enggavoter 2004) and in Suki “slow careful thinking way” is used (source L. and E. Twyman in The Bible Translator 1953, p. 91ff. )

In Kwang an expression is used that directly translates as “carry one’s head” (source: Mark Vanderkooi right here ), and in Q’anjob’al it is translated with the phrase “large stomach” (source: Newberry and Kittie Cox in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 91ff. ).

In Akan, it is typically translated as abodwokyɛre, lit. “chest cool longer.” (Source: Kofi Agyekum in International Journal of Language and Communication 2015, p. 35ff. )

See also Seat of the Mind / Seat of Emotions.

enemy / foe

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and Latin that is translated as “enemy” or “foe” in English is translated in the Hausa Common Language Bible as “friends of front,” i.e., the person standing opposite you in a battle. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

In North Alaskan Inupiatun it is translated with a term that implies that it’s not just someone who hates you, but one who wants to do you harm (Source: Robert Bascom), in Tarok as ukpa ìkum or “companion in war/fighting,” and in Ikwere as nye irno m or “person who hates me” (source for this and one above: Chuck and Karen Tessaro in this newsletter ).

Translation commentary on Baruch 4:25

My children, endure with patience the wrath that has come upon you from God: Good News Translation shortens this to “My children, endure God’s punishment with patience.” God’s wrath manifests itself as punishment, and it is obviously upon you (see the comments on verse 9). Contemporary English Version expresses this with “For now, my children, be patient. God has punished you in anger.” In some languages, however, this will need to be rendered as “My children, God is punishing you now. You must be patient as you endure this.”

Your enemy has overtaken you: “Persecuted” (Good News Translation) is much closer to the meaning of the Greek word rendered overtaken. Moore translates “hounded.” “Tormented” would also be a good choice. Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version translate your enemy as plural (“Your enemies”) for consistency, since the plural will be needed in the next lines.

You will soon see their destruction: This may be rendered in the active voice as “you will soon see people destroy them.”

Will tread upon their necks: This quotes the Greek version of Deut 33.29. The idiom means exactly what Good News Translation says with “at your mercy,” or Contemporary English Version with “you will have power over them,” but it is more than a figure of speech. In Josh 10.22-26 treading on the neck is a ritual act performed by the victor in battle before executing the defeated enemy. However, in most languages translators will need to make the meaning clear as in Good News Translation or Contemporary English Version, and if necessary, include a footnote explaining this custom. Compare also Isa 51.23.

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.