1 Cor 10:13

As I was preparing a Tok Pisin Bible study lesson this week, I noticed how much longer one verse was in Tok Pisin than in English. Tok Pisin, one of PNG's national languages, often uses more words than English to express a similar thought.

Here's the verse I was looking at... first, in English with 47 words:

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Then in Tok Pisin, at 91 words!

Ol traim i bin kamap long yupela, ol i no narakain traim. Nogat. Ol i wankain olsem ol traim i save kamap long olgeta man. Na God i save bihainim tok bilong em, na em bai i no inap larim wanpela bilong ol traim i kamap long yupela, em i winim strong bilong yupela. Nogat. Sapos traim i kamap long yupela, orait God bai i wokim rot bilong helpim yupela. Dispela rot i olsem. Em bai i mekim yupela i sanap strong, na dispela traim bai i no inap daunim yupela.

Here's my attempt at a phrase by phrase translation of the Tok Pisin: (Note: all of the 'you's in my translation are plural.)

The trials that have happened to all of you, they are not a different kind of trial. No! They are just the same as the trials that happen to everyone. And God follows His word, and He will not let any of the trials that happen to you, win out over you. No! If a trial happens to you, God will make a way to help you. The way is like this. He will help you all to stand strong, and the trial will not be able to get you down.