ProZ.com global directory of translation services
 The translation workplace
Ideas
KudoZ home » English » Religion

put the writing on the wall

English translation: warn


Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs
(or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.
09:40 Dec 9, 2009
English to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Religion / Book for Sunday School teachers
English term or phrase: put the writing on the wall
Contempt for God
Belshazzar sees the writing on the wall
Daniel 5
One of our chief concernes in this age of extreme godlessness is that the Lord will return and find our children unprepared to meet Him. The average worldling is so far away from God that he sins and blasphemes without any qualms or fears. Such was the case with King Belshazzar before the Lord disturbed his peace in a most dramatic way. By describing these events vividly, we have the opportunity to ***put the writing on the wall*** for our children.
Ana Juliá
Spain
Local time: 04:10
English translation:warn
Explanation:

To warn our children very plainly of the approaching judgment which awaits them if they live for this world, according to the prevailing spirit of godlessness and downright contempt for God and His Law of which Belshazzar is a clear example.

Selected response from:

Peter Nicholson
Poland
Local time: 04:10
Grading comment
Thanks
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +13warn
Peter Nicholson
5 +1put the fear of God so as not to go astray
Joyce A
5admonish
Kimberlee Thorne-Waintraub


  

Answers


11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +13
warn


Explanation:

To warn our children very plainly of the approaching judgment which awaits them if they live for this world, according to the prevailing spirit of godlessness and downright contempt for God and His Law of which Belshazzar is a clear example.



Peter Nicholson
Poland
Local time: 04:10
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 15
Grading comment
Thanks

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jim Tucker: Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin
5 mins
  -> Thank you.

agree  Patricia Townshend
9 mins
  -> Thank you.

agree  · george ·
14 mins
  -> Thank you.

agree  Jack Doughty
34 mins
  -> Thank you.

agree  William [Bill] Gray
37 mins
  -> Thank you.

agree  Suzan Hamer: Yes, to be precise, "Words written by a mysterious hand on the wall of Belshazzar's palace, and interpreted by Daniel as predicting the doom of the king and his dynasty" (jewishencyclopedia.com)
1 hr
  -> Thank you.

agree  Vicky Nash
1 hr
  -> Thank you.

agree  Liam Hamilton
2 hrs
  -> Thank you.

agree  Alexander Ryshow
3 hrs
  -> Thank you.

agree  B D Finch: Of course, many of us who don't believe in any god would consider this to be intimidation of defenceless children.//No offence intended, but I was just trying to observe that our comments should neither endorse nor attack religion.
3 hrs
  -> Thank you, B D, for your agreement, but I think your comment may be in violation of KudoZ rules 3.5 and/or 3.7. Let’s concentrate on helping Ana Juliá produce the best translation possible. Best regards, Peter.

agree  Polangmar
5 hrs
  -> Thank you.

agree  Phong Le
16 hrs
  -> Thank you.

agree  Goldcoaster
1 day3 hrs
  -> Thank you.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

27 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
put the fear of God so as not to go astray


Explanation:
I think it is to put the fear of God (in the children) so as not to go astray, as going astray will lead to their spiritual demise.

Also, I found the definition of the idiom in the below Wikipedia website:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_writing_on_the_wall

"The writing on the wall" (or sometimes "handwriting on the wall"), an idiom, is a portent of doom or misfortune. It originates in the Biblical book of Daniel—where supernatural writing foretells the demise of the Babylonian Empire. The phrase is widely used in language and literature.

Joyce A
Thailand
Local time: 09:10
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Yasutomo Kanazawa
52 mins
  -> Thank you, Yasutomo-san. :-)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
admonish


Explanation:
we have the opportunity to ***admonish*** our children.

This term "admonish" is commonly used in the religious setting, for example, Sunday School (I'm a Sunday School teacher).

FYI: The words of warning of admonishing or caution were written by the Lord Himself on that wall, forewarning or predicting a future doom if the people did not repent....


    Reference: http://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warn
Kimberlee Thorne-Waintraub
United States
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Stephanie Ezrol: Don't forget the irony in the modern useage of bibilical expression. In the bible story, only one person understood the meaning of meine tenkel. Today we use the expression the writing is on the wall to mean that anyone can read it.
16 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)




Return to KudoZ list


Changes made by editors
Apr 20, 2011 - Changes made by Peter Nicholson:
FieldOther => Social Sciences


KudoZ™ translation help
The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.



See also: