Talmida tackles translation

Yesterday Talmida blogged on beginning to translate Genesis. Talmida is truly wrestling with translation issues as they come along. Here's her translation of the first five verses:

1. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth,
2. when the earth had been emptiness and waste, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. The breath of God hovered over the face of the waters.
3. God said, "Let light happen," and light happened.
4. And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.
5. And God called light "day" and he called darkness "night". And evening happened and morning happened: Day One.

And she says of it:

I'm starting to appreciate the struggle that translators go through. I do not like my v.1-2, but I can't think of how to improve it!!!

After discussing some of the details of the translation issues, she notes:

Actually deciding on a translation (instead of keeping optional meanings in parentheses which I do for translation exercises) is stressful! It's not choosing one word that's difficult, but the fear of excluding a more important meaning! There are so many!

Folks, translation is not easy. There are so many different important aspects of translation to consider. It is instructive to listen in as Talmida is translating.

We wish you well, Talmida. And we'll check again on your progress.

UPDATE: Talmida is now posting her "finished" translations on a new blog.