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темна вода во облацех

English translation: see explanation


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16:14 Jan 19, 2012
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Russian term or phrase: темна вода во облацех
I was going to abandon Biblical reference and just use "a great mystery" for темна вода во облацех - but I need the phrase that follows it to also make sense.

Забегая вперед, могу сказать, что все купцы, и притом отнюдь не только богатые, но даже такие, содержимое лавки которых легко могло бы уместиться в короб, были отправлены в ссылку...А между тем все они придерживались весьма левых взглядов и при румынах считались (во всяком случае, сами себя считали) просоветской ориентации. Вот уж, действительно: темна вода во облацех. Можно напробоваться досыта
Deborah Hoffman
Local time: 07:58
English translation:see explanation
Explanation:
Incorporating the next phrase...
It's an mystery no matter how hard you try (to figure it out).

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Note added at 14 mins (2012-01-19 16:28:42 GMT)
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Opps: an mystery --> a mystery
Selected response from:

Sam Pinson
Local time: 04:58
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +2see explanation
Sam Pinson
4It's a a murky secret indeed!
Dmitry Kornyukhov
3 +1mistery wrapped in an Enigma
Anna Lepeshkina
3the ways of God are inscrutable
Andrew Vdovin
3Lord works in mysterious ways
Elena Kuznetsova


  

Answers


10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
It's a a murky secret indeed!


Explanation:
As a variant

Dmitry Kornyukhov
Ukraine
Local time: 14:58
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 8
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7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
see explanation


Explanation:
Incorporating the next phrase...
It's an mystery no matter how hard you try (to figure it out).

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 mins (2012-01-19 16:28:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Opps: an mystery --> a mystery

Sam Pinson
Local time: 04:58
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 40

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Angela Greenfield: or a version of the same: It's all cloaked in mystery
1 hr

agree  cyhul
7 days
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
mistery wrapped in an Enigma


Explanation:
тайна сия велика есть

Anna Lepeshkina
Local time: 15:58
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alexandra Taggart: Excellent! "That was a RIDDLE wrapped in an enigma"
21 mins

neutral  Angela Greenfield: I am not sure, but I thought this expression was Churchill's description of Russia (or at least many believe it was). Not that it doesn't fit the situation, but this is what comes to mind when you hear this expression.
35 mins
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13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Lord works in mysterious ways


Explanation:
This phrase "темна вода во облацех" is taken from Psalm 17 and you are absolutely right trying to abandon this reference as the Russian and English version of the Psalm are different. But in my opinion with the phrase "Lord works in mysterious ways" you will be able to convey the author's thought.

Elena Kuznetsova
Russian Federation
Local time: 15:58
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
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14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
the ways of God are inscrutable


Explanation:
OR:
God's ways are past finding out

Andrew Vdovin
Local time: 18:58
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 67
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