In English translations it says that “God stood on a platform of sapphire as blue as the sky.” The translator transliterated sapphire, and said the platform was as black as the sky since the Maan word for blue includes the color black also. We decided to say that the platform was the color of the sky, without specifying the color. That way a light blue color will be in view.
shadow
The Hebrew that is rendered in English versions as “live the few days of their vain life, which they pass like a shadow?” is translated into Afar as Sahdayti subci suga iraaway ayro tawqe waqdi gexah bis le.: “People are like a shadow present in the early morning that goes away when the sun rises.” (Clarifying the role of the sun in the changing shadow.)
See also shadow vs. spirit.
raisin cake
The phrase that is rendered in English versions as “(sustain me with) raisin cake” is translated into Afar as malawwacak bicsen gaqambo: “bread prepared from honey” (raisins are not known, but honey is.)
mount up with wings like eagles
The phrase that is translated in English versions as “mount up with wings like eagles” is translated into Afar as gabilleema’nnal haadelon. Qaafiyatah danan yakken: “they will fly like eagles; as for health they will become donkeys.” (Added donkey as a known metaphor of strength since eagles are not known for strength.)
shake heads
The phrase that is translated in English translations as “are horrified and shake their heads” is translated into Afar as Ahamal qagabsiteloonuuh, namma xabanal gaba hayya heenih.: “They are shocked at this, and put both hands on their cheeks.” (Shock is expressed physically by placing their hands on their cheeks, not shaking their heads.)
See also insulted him and shook their heads.
overthrown, trip up
The phrase that is translated into English translations as “let them be tripped up (or overthrown) before you” is translated into Afar as Isik foocal irimbi selte caxa ken ab.: Make them wood that has been eaten by termites before you.” (Termites are a big problem destroying wood in the Afar region.)
tingle
The phrase that is rendered in English versions as “the ears of everyone who hears of it (disaster) will tingle” is translated into Afar as “yaabbe marih xagarak xoq qiddahiyya”: “(disaster) that will make the bodies of the people who hear it perspire.” (A different bodily reaction associated with frightening news in Afar idiom.)
shout like those who tread grapes
The phrase that is translated in English versions as “shout, like those who tread grapes” is translated into Afar as “Carbih gexa mari edde haa tirtirat heele.”: “He will make a war cry that men going to battle make.”