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.)
Language-specific Insights
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.)
the prophets are nothing but wind
The phrase that is rendered “the prophets are nothing but wind” in English versions is translated into Afar as Nabuwwa ufuyuk kiben karbatik gide ikkal, xiqaanam malonuuy: “The prophets are equivalent to big, leather milk containers (karbat) blown up with air, and are useless.”
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.)