complete verse (Deuteronomy 28:67)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 28:67:

  • Kupsabiny: “You shall say when it dawns, ‘Oh, please, may the day soon be over!’ and when evening has arrived you shall say, ‘Oh, please, may it soon be dawn!’ It is like that because you shall fear to see what is coming to you.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “You will tremble with fear at everything you see. In the morning you will say, "It would be good if it were already evening." Then in the evening you will say, "It would be good if it were already morning."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Because of your (plur.) fear with the things which you (plur.) see around, you (plur.) will-say in the morning, ‘Wish (it is) evening now.’ And at evening you (plur.) will-say, ‘Wish (it is) morning now.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Because you will be very fearful/afraid because of the terrible things that you see, each morning you will say ‘I wish it were evening already!’ and each evening you will say ‘I wish it were morning already!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 28:67

Would it were evening! … Would it were morning! Or “I wish it were day … I wish it were night” (Contemporary English Version). See similar statements in Job 7.4.

The dread which your heart shall fear: they will be filled with fear, with no relief as they look to the future. The vivid language in Good News Translation, “Your hearts will pound with fear,” will be a good model for many translators.

The sights which your eyes shall see: all about them they will see the terrible conditions to which all the Israelites have been subjected.

Translators are urged to examine Good News Translation as a possible model. Contemporary English Version also has a good model:

• Every morning you will wake up to such terrible sights that you will say, “I wish it were night!” And at night you will be terrified and say, “I wish it were day!”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .