complete verse (Revelation 22:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 22:12:

  • Uma: “The Lord Yesus said: ‘I am about to arrive-e’, [particle connoting: ‘watch out, listen up!’] and I will reward the behavior of each person according to what they have done.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “‘Listen,’ says Isa. ‘My coming is near and I will reward/repay you each one according to your doings.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “‘Listen,’ says Jesus, ‘I am coming and then I will reward each one according to what he has done.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Jesus says, ‘Listen to this. My coming will-be soon. And when I come, I will bring a reward to give to each one according to what he has done.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “‘For listen,’ says Jesus. ‘Really before long now I will come there to you. I will bring the rewards which I will distribute to each one, according to what he has done.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Jesus again said: ‘It will be soon when I come. I will bring the wages for each person for his payment. Whether good or evil he has done, that is what the payment is determined by.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Revelation 22:12

Behold, I am coming soon: for Behold see 1.7; and see comment at Rev. 22.7, above. By its use of quotation marks, Revised Standard Version intends to show that someone other than the writer is speaking. It is better to indicate that Jesus is the speaker, as Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, and Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje do.

Bringing my recompense, to repay every one: this applies to all, the righteous and the evil alike. So my recompense may be reward (see 11.18) or it may be punishment (see 18.6). Another way of expressing this is “I am coming to either reward or punish all people for what they have done.”

For what he has done: see 2.23, “as your works deserve”; 20.12, 13.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .