complete verse (Ezra 7:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezra 7:18:

  • Kupsabiny: “You and the other leaders can use the remaining silver and gold for the thing that you (plur.) see that it is good following the will of your God.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “You and your fellow Jews may use the remaining silver and gold as you wish, but it must be in accordance with God’s desires.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The remaining gold and silver you (plur.) can use with your (sing.) fellowmen in whatever-way you (plur.) want according to the will of your (plur.) God.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘If there is any silver or gold that remains you have bought all those things, you and your companions/colleagues are permitted to use it to buy whatever you desire, but buy only things that you know that God wants you to buy.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Ezra 7:18

Whatever seems good to you and your brethren: The king further authorizes that “whatever you and your brothers judge to be good,” “whatever you … wish to do,” or “whatever is pleasing to you…,” should be done.

Your brethren refers to Ezra’s fellow priests. Good News Translation gives the interpretation of “your people,” but it is preferable to make the meaning more explicit, for example, “your companions” (Bible en français courant) or “your colleagues” (New Revised Standard Version).

The rest of the silver and gold means the silver and gold that is left over after the animals and other things for the sacrifices have been purchased. Whatever seems good to you is limited to the use of the remaining gold and silver for the Temple.

According to the will of your God: What is considered to be good by Ezra and his fellow priests is to be judged or measured against God’s will, that is, what is in accordance with “the law of your God” (see verse 14 above). This may be translated “in conformity with the will of your God” (compare New American Bible) or “according to what your God wants.”

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Ezra. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .