complete verse (Psalm 104:23)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 104:23:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Then a person goes to his work,
    to do his work until evening.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Then people will come out to work until evening.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “The people on-the-other-hand come-out of their houses to work until dusk.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “And people go to do their works
    until the sun goes down.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Basi mtu anakwenda kwenye kazi yake,
    anafanya kazi yake mpaka jioni.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “And during the daytime, people go to their work;
    they work until it is evening.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 104:22 - 104:23

, Ps At sunrise the young lions go back to their dens, where they stay the whole day (verse 22). Sunrise, also, is the time for people to start working, and they stay at it until sunset (verse 23). Verse 23 must not be related to verse 22 in such a way as to imply that people don’t leave their homes for work until the lions have gone back to their dens (because they are afraid the lions will attack them). This is hardly a problem in urban industrial societies, but it can be a real problem in some parts of the world.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .