The Greek that is typically translated as “eternity,” “forever,” or “forever and ever” in English are translated in Mairasi as “mashed out infinitely.” Lloyd Peckham explains: “Bark cloth required pounding. It got longer and wider as it got pounded. Similarly, life gets pounded or mashed to lengthen it into infinity. Tubers also get mashed into the standard way of serving the staple food, like the fufu of Uganda, or like poi of Hawaii. It spreads out into infinity.” (Source: Lloyd Peckham)
In Lisu the phrase “forever and ever” is translated as ꓕꓲꓽ ꓞꓲꓼ ꓕꓲ ꓑ — thi tsi thi pa, verbatim translated as “one – lifetime – one – world.” This construction follows a traditional four-couplet construct in oral Lisu poetry that is usually in the form ABAC or ABCB. (Source: Arrington 2020, p. 57f.)
In Makonde it is often translated as navyaka or “years and years.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)
Retrotraducciones en español (haga clic o pulse aquí)
Yo estoy aquí en la cárcel porque predicaba y anunciaba el evangelio y tú no puedes venir a ayudarme, entonces en tu lugar, mejor que Onésimo me ayude y apoye.
Yo quisiera que se quide aqui y sea útil, pero yo no puedo (decidirlo), porque tú no me has dado ningun permiso y por eso Onésimo regresa a tí para que estén juntos.
Yo no quiero insistir, sólo quiero que sea (tu decisión) voluntaria, porque Onésimo se fue y ahora, después de un tiempo, van a estar juntos otra vez para siempre.
No continues a tenerlo como esclavo, pero sean como hermanos cariñosos. Yo tengo mucho cariño para Onésimo, pero como ustedes han estado juntos mucho, tú tienes más cariño para él.
I am here in prison because I preached the gospel, and you cannot come to help me, so Onesimus can help and support me on your behalf.
I would like him to stay here and be useful, but I cannot (make that decision) because you haven’t given me any permission, and because of that Onesimus returns to be together with you.
I don’t want to insist, I want it to be a voluntary (decision), because Onesimus left you and now, after some time has passed, you are going to be together again forever.
He shouldn’t continue as your slave, you should be together as dear brothers. I love Onesimus, but as you have been together a lot, you have even more love for him.
Following are a number of back-translations of Philemon 1:15:
Uma: “That is why I order(ed) him to go [to you], I thought/said that perhaps this short separation of yours (pl.) the Lord is using-as-a-road, so that he will return to you forever.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Perhaps that is why Onesimus was caused-to-be-separate from you for a short while so that as long as he lives he will be there with you.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Perhaps the purpose of God in Onesimus’s leaving you is: he was taken away from you for a short time so that he might become yours again forever.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “It’s-possible that the reason Onesimus was separated from you (sing.) for a short-while was so that he will return to join you (sing.) forever.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “And another thing, maybe he was separated from you for a short time so that he could return again and stay for always under your authority.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “It seems that it was necessary that your worker left you for a while. Because when he returns, now as a believer he returns and now he will nevermore leave you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
The following is a translation for a performance of the book of Philemon in Papiamento and its English translation. The translation is interspersed with a provocative fictional response by the historical character of Tula, the Curaçaoan revolt leader of 1795, juxtaposing the subtle liberating message of Paul with a revolutionary approach. This is followed by a video showing the performance:
1 Esaki ta karta
1 This is [a] letter
di Pablo,
from Paul,
i di ruman Timoteo,
From sibling Timothy
Pablo prezu pa kousa di Kristu-Hesus;
Paul imprisoned for the cause of Christ-Jesus
ta pa Filemon, kompañer’i trabou,
it is for Philemon, fellow of work
2 ta pa Iglesia, reuní na su kas.
2 It is for the church, gathered at his house
Karta tambe pa Apfia, nos ruman muhé,
Letter also to Apphia, our sibling female
Karta tambe pa Argipo, kompañer’i lucha.
Letter also for Archippus fellow of fight
Click or tap here to see the rest of this translation as well as the video performance
3 Dios nos Tata, duna boso
3 God the Father give you
Señor Hesu-Kristu duna boso
Lord Jesus-Christ give you
grasia i pas.
grace and peace
Filemon, Filemon,
Philemon, Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
Have you not heard (then) Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Lesa mi ta lesa den karta sagrado
Read I do read in holy letter
Ta ku masha kachèt mester kumindá bo
(that) with lots of respect you have to be greeted
Pa kombensébo ku hende ta util
(so as to) convince you that (a) human being is useful
Hende ta mas k’util.
(A) Human being is more than useful
4 Mi Dios mi ta gradisí,
4 My God I do thank
Ora mi kòrdabo den mi orashon,
When I remember you in my prayer
5 pasobra hopi fe den Señor Hesus bo tin
because lots of faith in (the) Lord Jesus you have
Segun mi a tende,
From what I hear
Stimashon pa Dios su pueblo bo tin.
Love for God his people you have.
6 Mi ta resa, pa e fe
I pray for the faith
ku bo ta kompartí ku otro kreyente,
that you share with other believers,
hiba na komprondementu berdadero di tur kos bon
lead to understanding true of all good things
ku pa Kristu nos por hasi.
that for Christ we can do
7 Mi ruman, bo amor
7 My sibling, your love
a hasi mi mashá kontentu
has made me very happy
kurashá mi hopi,
encouraged me a lot
pasobra el a sirbi pa animá kurason di e rumannan.
Because he has to animate (the) heart of the siblings.
Filemon, Filemon,
Philemon, Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
Have you not heard (then) Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Ta trasta mester trasta ku bo
Flatter has to flatter you
Hunta stropi na bo boka
Put honey at your mouth
Pa por bisa bo ku bo ta mal robes
So as to say that you are badly wrong
Pa por bisa bo ku bo ta mal brua
So as to say that you are badly confused
8 P’esei derecho mi tin di bisa bo kiko hasi,
8 That is why with what right I have to tell you what to do,
Ora mi apelá na Kristu.
When I appeal to Christ.
9 Tòg a base di amor,
9 Though on (the) basis of love,
un petishon mi ta preferá hasi na bo.
A petition I prefer to do to you.
Ami, Pablo un hòmber bieu kaba,
I, Paul a man old already
asta prezu awor pa kousa di Kristu
even imprisoned now for (the) cause of Christ
10 Mi ke pidi bo pa mi yu Onésimo;
10 I want to ask you for my son Onesimus;
ta den prisón mi a bira su tata spiritual.
it is in prison that I have become his spiritual father.
11 Un tempu e no tabata sirbi bo pa nada,
11 A time he was not useful for anything
pero awor el a bira útil pa nos tur dos,
but now he has become useful to two of us,
manera su nòmber mes ta nifiká.
just as his name means.
Filemon, Filemon,
Philemon, Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
Have you not heard (then) Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Pachi7 Pablo pone preshon
Old man Paul put pressure
Pachi Pablo no papia ko’I kèns
Old man Paul do not speak foolishness
Ku trabou’i katibu n’ ta bal nada
(to say) that work of slave is not worth anything
Ku mi t’ei djis pa ta “util.”
That I am (exist) just to be “useful”
12 Mi ta mand’é bèk pa bo;
12 I am sending him back to you
ta manera mi kurason mes
as if my heart itself
mi ta ranka saka manda pa bo!
I rip out and send to you!
13 Gana di ten’é serka mi, mi tin
13 Desire to have him with me, I have
pa e por a yuda mi na bo lugá,
so that he can help me in your place
tanten mi ta prezu pa kousa di e bon notisia.
while I am imprisoned for the cause of the good news.
14 Sinembargo mi no ke hasi nada sin bo aprobashon,
14 Although I do not want to do anything without your approval
pa bo no haña bo ta hasi un bondat fòrsá,
so you will not find yourself doing a good, forced,
ma dje manera akí bo por hasié di bo mes boluntat.
but in this way you can do it from your own will.
Filemon, Filemon,
Philemon, Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
Have you not heard (then) Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Ai malai ai malai ei
(lamentation sound)
Ai malai ai malai ei
(lamentation sound)
Si bo tabata konosé doló di katibu
If you do not know (the) pain of slave(s)
Pablito lo bo no a saka bo shiri shiri,
(Dear) Paul (diminutive)
you would not have to take out your guts,
Bo yu sin doló, mand’é bèk.
your child-without-pain to send him back.
15 Por ta mashá bon:
15 Could be very well:
pa un tempu el a alehá for di bo,
For a time he has gone away from you,
djis pa bo hañ’é bèk pa semper.
Just so you can find him back for ever.
16 Pasobra awor e no ta djis un simpel katibu:
16 Because now he is not just a simple slave:
mas ku un katibu e ta un ruman stimá.
More than a slave he is a beloved sibling.
Anto spesialmente pa mi, e ta mashá stimá!
And especially for me, he is very well loved.
Pero pa abo: mas stimá ainda, komo katibu i komo ruman den Señor.
And for you more: more loved, as a slave/servant and as sibling in (the) Lord.
17 Ke men si bo tin mi pa kompañero,
17 That is to say if you have me for (a) collaborator,
risibí Onésimo manera lo bo a risibí mi mes.
receive Onesimus as you would have received me.
Filemon, Filemon,
Philemon, Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
Have you not heard (then) Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Di Adam ku Eva nos ta bini.
From Adam and Eva we come
Boso Buki mes ta bisa.
Your Book itself says it
Si nos tur ta bin di tera,
If we all can come from the earth
T’un lokura abusá di esun
It is a madness to abuse
ku ta puluwé den tera.
the one who plows the earth.
18 Si el a perhudiká bo den ki forma ku ta
18 If he has damaged you in whatever manner
òf si e ta debe bo algu,
or if he owes you something
laga esei pa mi kuenta.
leave that for to my account.
19 Awor mi mes man ta skibi esaki:
19 Now my own hand writes this:
‘Ami, Pablo, ta paga bo bèk!’
“I, Paul, will pay you back!”
Mi n’ tin nodi’ kòrda bo ku bo debe serka mi ta bo mes!
There is no need for me to remind me that your debt with me is yourself!
20 Sí, mi ruman, hasi mi e fabor akí pa Señor;
20 Yes, my sibling, do this favor for me for (the) Lord;
animá mi kurason komo ruman den Kristu!
animate my heart as sibling in Christ!
Filemon, Filemon,
Philemon, Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
Have you not heard (then) Philemon
“Perhaps” (Revised Standard Version) represents Greek tacha (here and in Rom 5.7). The potentiality suggested by the introductory expression it may be that is often better expressed by an adverb such as “perhaps.”
Was away (from you) … you might have him back refer to two contrasting situations: the first during the time Onesimus was in flight from Philemon and the second when he is to return to his master. It seems quite clear that the way in which Paul phrases the matter [particularly in the use of the cautions “perhaps,” the use of the passive form of the verb “to be separated,” and the avoidance of the verb “he ran away (from you)”] implies that in all this God was at work to bring about the intended result which Paul so ardently hopes to achieve.
Was away from you may be expressed more effectively as a negation, for example, “was not with you” or “did not remain there with you.”
Onesimus’ separation was for a short time (literally “for an hour,” see also 2 Cor 7.8); his return will hold good for all time (Revised Standard Version “for ever”). It is difficult to determine exactly what Paul meant by this “eternally”; perhaps something like “for good,” “permanently” (see a similar use in John 8.35). In any case the new relationship, that of Christian brothers, is a permanent one, which will not change regardless of whatever else may change.
For a short time must not be understood as merely a brief period of a day or so. Obvious Onesimus had traveled some distance from Colossae and had probably been with Paul for some time. If a somewhat definite expression of time must be employed, it should reflect at least several weeks and possibly several months.
For all time may be expressed as “from now on” or “continuously.”
You might have him back may be expressed in many languages as “he might be again with you” or “he might remain with you.”
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to Philemon. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
Paragraph 15–16 Onesimus is now a brother in Christ
In these verses Paul said that it could be a good thing that Onesimus ran away from Philemon. As a result, Onesimus became a Christian. As he went back to Philemon, he went back not only as a slave, but also as a Christian brother. If he had not run away, he might not have become a Christian.
Read verses 15–16 again.
15a-b
for a while…for good: (Good News Translation🙂 “short time…all time” The short time that Onesimus was away from Philemon—perhaps a few months—helped him to return and be with him for all time (on this earth and in heaven) as a fellow Christian. Another way to say this would be that Philemon lost a slave for a short time so he could get back a Christian brother for all time.
15a
perhaps: Paul was not certain that what he said in 15a–16a was God’s plan, but he thought that it was likely.
was separated from you: What this really means is that Onesimus ran away. But Paul said it in a way that made it seem like God allowed him to run away or even that God caused this to happen. This then helped Onesimus to meet Paul and become a Christian.
15b
have him back: This means that Philemon could have Onesimus with him again.
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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