complete verse (Matthew 5:42)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 5:42:

  • Uma: “If there is someone who asks us (incl.) for anything, just give it to him. And do not be stingy to our (incl.) friends who want to borrow anything of ours (incl.).” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Whoever asks you (for something) give it, and whoever borrows from you, lend it.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “If someone is begging from us, let’s give to him. If there is someone who wants to borrow, let’s lend to him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “If someone asks-for-something from you (sing.), give to him, and if there is also someone-who-borrows, lend to him.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “What really is good is to give to the one asking from you, and also don’t refuse the one who wants to borrow from you.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “If someone asks something from you, give it. Whoever wants to borrow something from you, lend it.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 5:42

Who begs from you … who would borrow from you: Begs means to ask someone to give something (so also An American Translation, Moffatt, New American Bible). The second verb has the meaning borrow or “ask a loan.” The response to the first request is stated positively (Give), while the second response is stated negatively (do not refuse).

It is important not to use a word for begs that refers only to common begging. Translators may use “asks you for something” (as in Good News Translation) or “asks you for something you have.”

Many languages require a direct object of Give, so that the sentence can be “give whatever someone needs when they ask you” or, probably better, “when someone asks for something from you, give it to him.”

Do not refuse can be “don’t refuse to give” or “don’t say ‘No’ when someone asks….”

Again, as with “give,” borrow is a verb that often requires an object. People may want to borrow “something” or “something you have.”

The second part of the verse may be structured like this: “When someone asks you to loan him something, don’t refuse to help,” “When someone asks if he can borrow something from you, don’t say ‘No,’ ” “When someone asks to borrow something from you, lend it to him,” or “Don’t refuse to help the person who asks to borrow something from you.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .