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Jede Zeit hat ihre Not und jede Zeit hat ihr Brot

English translation: Times of feast and (times of) famine

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09:00 May 16, 2011

German to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Redewendung

German term or phrase: Jede Zeit hat ihre Not und jede Zeit hat ihr Brot

This is a sentence in a welcome address on the occasion of a company anniversary; the speaker takes stock of past developments in the company's and the region's history and talks about continuity even in times of rapid changes.
The phrase introduces a new section:

*Jede Zeit hat ihre Not und jede Zeit hat ihr Brot!* Deshalb ist es ohne Zweifel richtig, dass wir uns den komplexen Herausforderungen des Zeitgeistes mit ganzer Kraft annehmen, um Erfolg zu haben. Wir dürfen aber auch dankbar daran erinnern, dass wir seit über 60 Jahre in Frieden und Freiheit unserer Arbeit nachgehen können. Das sah zu Zeiten der Unternehmensgründung ganz anders aus.

Any creative ideas are welcome!

Peggy Maeyer KudoZ activity Questions: 68 (none open) (11 closed without grading) Answers: 70 Germany
Local time: 00:55

English translation:Times of feast and (times of) famine

Explanation:
another possibility

Selected response from:

Ramey Rieger
Local time: 00:55

Grading comment

Thanks, Ramey! Your suggestion fits my context best - and I did keep the part in parentheses :-)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +7

Times of feast and (times of) famine

Ramey Rieger

Every season has its own challenges and opportunities

Raghunathan

In good times and in bad

AllegroTrans

Every period has its problems and its pleasures.

Armorel Young

There is a time to everything...

phoeberuth

Discussion entries: 2

Answers

31 mins confidence:

There is a time to everything...

Explanation:
"There is a time to everything... a time to weep and a time to laugh.."

This is a (fairly well-known?!) Bible quote from the book of Ecclesiastes ch 3, NIV version; there are lots more pairs in there that you could choose from if you don't like weep / laugh for Not/ Brot; but I think on the whole this is a reasonably standard saying that gets across the original meaning of your phrase.
But I look forward to see what others suggest too!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 57 Min. (2011-05-16 09:58:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Just in case what I wrote above was ambiguous... the German saying itself is NOT a Bible quote, it's just a traditional German saying!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 Stunde (2011-05-16 10:09:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

And I've just thought of another possible translation:

'There are times of need and times of plenty..."

phoeberuth
Local time: 00:55
Meets criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +7

Times of feast and (times of) famine

Explanation:
another possibility

Ramey Rieger
Local time: 00:55
Meets criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 40

Grading comment

Thanks, Ramey! Your suggestion fits my context best - and I did keep the part in parentheses :-)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Susan Welsh: I think you need the part in parentheses also.

7 mins

-> Hi Susan! Yes, thought I'd leave that up to Peggy, depending on how short and snappy it should be. Thank-you!

agree

Nicola Wood: Hi Ramey. This fits nicely, but like Susan I think you need the second "times of".

1 hr

-> Hi Nicola. Yes, probably so, I definately would, really depends on "hype" factor - how short is should be. Hope you're well, and thank-you!

agree

David Mossop

3 hrs

-> Thank-you, David!

agree

John Hein-Hartmann: I like the alliteration - but would keep the part in parentheses.

3 hrs

-> You're not alone, there. Thank-you!

neutral

Cilian O'Tuama: context suggests it's more like war v. peace than the superlative feast v. famine - but idea is right IMO // No need to make this personal.

11 hrs

-> WOW, and you ALMOST agree??? I'm honoured!// Um, sorry, I thought you could tell I was joking!

agree

D-E Translator : I agree with Susan, Nicola and John to keep the part in parentheses.

13 hrs

-> Okay, Desiduous-Epiphany, I think you're right! Thank-you

agree

Harald Moelzer (medical-translator)

17 hrs

-> Thank-you Harald!

agree

Thayenga: Without parentheses...but you already know this. :)

17 hrs

-> Um, yea, I do believe! thanks, love, hope you're well!

1 hr confidence:

Every period has its problems and its pleasures.

Explanation:
Or if pleasures could be interpreted as risque, then "Every period has its problems and its rewards" or "Every period has different problems, different pleasures/rewards).

Armorel Young
Local time: 23:55
Meets criteria
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 67

4 hrs confidence:

In good times and in bad

Explanation:
#
Flexible Investment Strategies - The Bargain Hunters ...
Your ship in the storm. Scores of dedicated users have improved and refined the Bargain ... money from investing on the stock market – in good times and in bad. ...
www.flexinvest.co.uk/flexisystem.htm
#
In good times and in bad.... (15 June 1999) | Cricket News ...
In good times and in bad... - Cricket news from from cricket in Global
www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/81684.html - 125k
#
In Good Times and in Bad - Transmission and Distribution ...
Spotlight: T&D World Vegetation Management Resource Center • Webinar: Smart Metering/Advanced Metering Infrastructure. Home > > In Good Times and in Bad ...
tdworld.com/.../global_viewpoint_good_times_bad_times_1208 - 72k
#
Quadrant Online - In good times and in bad?
In good times and in bad? by James Allan. February 13, 2009 ... Even after years of a left wing Helen Clark Labour government in New Zealand, the labour ...
quadrant.org.au/blogs/qed/2009/02/in-good-times-and-in-bad
#

AllegroTrans
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:55
Meets criteria
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 12

17 hrs confidence:

Every season has its own challenges and opportunities

Explanation:
Every season presents different challenges and opportunities.

It's a welcome address. I think, the speaker would certainly prefer to use opportunities and challenges, and how the company was successful in overcoming the various challenges that came its way, ior perhaps converted them into opportunities.

Raghunathan
Local time: 04:25
Meets criteria
Native speaker of:

English

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Jede Zeit hat ihre Not und jede Zeit hat ihr Brot

English translation: Times of feast and (times of) famine

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Jede Zeit hat ihre Not und jede Zeit hat ihr Brot

English translation: Times of feast and (times of) famine

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