Literature:The Tower of Babel

The Tower of Babel is a creation text from the Book of Genesis (also known as "In the beginning") as the first installment of the Tanach in Judaism and the Old Testament in Christianity, detailing an origin myth providing a rationale for why the various peoples of the world speak such diverse languages.

The text has become a popular translation reference for many Conlangs, being one of the first texts to be translated across various Conlangs, the story itself being a story of language-invention, a story inspirational yet familiar to many conlangers/conlinguists, and, like the first (1st) article of The Universal Declaration of Human Riğts and The Internationale, has become a famous text translated into a significant portion of the languages of Earth.

Translations

The Tower of Babel

• The Tower of Babel/Fén Ghír

English

King James Version (1611)

1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto Heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Hebrew

Masoretic Text

א וַיְהִ֥י כָל־הָאָ֖רֶץ שָׂפָ֣ה אֶחָ֑ת וּדְבָרִ֖ים אֲחָדִֽים׃
ב וַיְהִ֖י בְּנָסְעָ֣ם מִקֶּ֑דֶם וַֽיִּמְצְא֥וּ בִקְעָ֛ה בְּאֶ֥רֶץ שִׁנְעָ֖ר וַיֵּ֥שְׁבוּ שָֽׁם׃
ג וַיֹּֽאמְר֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֗הוּ הָ֚בָה נִלְבְּנָ֣ה לְבֵנִ֔ים וְנִשְׂרְפָ֖ה לִשְׂרֵפָ֑ה וַתְּהִ֨י לָהֶ֤ם הַלְּבֵנָה֙ לְאָ֔בֶן וְהַ֣חֵמָ֔ר הָיָ֥ה לָהֶ֖ם לַחֹֽמֶר׃
ד וַיֹּֽאמְר֞וּ הָ֣בָה ׀ נִבְנֶה־לָּ֣נוּ עִ֗יר וּמִגְדָּל֙ וְרֹאשׁ֣וֹ בַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְנַֽעֲשֶׂה־לָּ֖נוּ שֵׁ֑ם פֶּן־נָפ֖וּץ עַל־פְּנֵ֥י כָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
ה וַיֵּ֣רֶד יְהוָ֔ה לִרְאֹ֥ת אֶת־הָעִ֖יר וְאֶת־הַמִּגְדָּ֑ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּנ֖וּ בְּנֵ֥י הָֽאָדָֽם׃
ו וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֗ה הֵ֣ן עַ֤ם אֶחָד֙ וְשָׂפָ֤ה אַחַת֙ לְכֻלָּ֔ם וְזֶ֖ה הַֽחִלָּ֣ם לַֽעֲשׂ֑וֹת וְעַתָּה֙ לֹֽא־יִבָּצֵ֣ר מֵהֶ֔ם כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָֽזְמ֖וּ לַֽעֲשֽׂוֹת׃
ז הָ֚בָה נֵֽרְדָ֔ה וְנָֽבְלָ֥ה שָׁ֖ם שְׂפָתָ֑ם אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א יִשְׁמְע֔וּ אִ֖ישׁ שְׂפַ֥ת רֵעֵֽהוּ׃
ח וַיָּ֨פֶץ יְהוָ֥ה אֹתָ֛ם מִשָּׁ֖ם עַל־פְּנֵ֣י כָל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַֽיַּחְדְּל֖וּ לִבְנֹ֥ת הָעִֽיר׃
ט עַל־כֵּ֞ן קָרָ֤א שְׁמָהּ֙ בָּבֶ֔ל כִּי־שָׁ֛ם בָּלַ֥ל יְהוָ֖ה שְׂפַ֣ת כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וּמִשָּׁם֙ הֱפִיצָ֣ם יְהוָ֔ה עַל־פְּנֵ֖י כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

Fén Ghír

Babel ba Malun

1. Bhé én ghír na cun mhóca me tol ír cu bhocá.

2. On bhé té bhoc anan dó ló, bhé bhoc me palir ír cu Chinar cór ló, bhé thé íc ce ló.

3. On bhé ghír me ló cór ló; “Bhoc. On tel dén tolic me dí, bér fhér ló me dí.” An bhé pilán pon tolic na nén pon dénéchon ce ló.

4. On bhé ghír ítá me ló; “Bhoc. Tel dhén labhen me dí. Tel dén malun ét ífan ced me ít ba níl me dí. In tel dhén én fhémoc pon dí, lé thé tol íra ba dem alona me ló.”

5. On bhoc lór me Úlan pon cím labhen na malun ét té dhén me Adem ba ína.

6. On bhé ghír ítá me Úlan, “Cím. On té én ghél me ló, bhé én ghír cór ló, té ét lé dhír ditol bhoc én chon ít me ló. En én cíder tel ghar ló dó ló ba med.

7. Bhoc. Lé lór me dí. In chuc ló ba gír chím me dí, tel dén chím del ló me ló.”

8. In bhé lúr ló me Úlan cór tol ír, tel dén labhen me ló."

9. On bhé chuc ló ba gír chím me Úlan, bhé dén lé ló me Úlan cór lúr tol ír , bhé fémoc Babel cór labhen ít.

Nevotak

1. hu toizat re hi nuzh-rira es hi nuz-ub-rira.
2. en hat chin res muz bi kezhar, res en Shinar wai no hi koria es ya hatwai.
3. res muis nuz "tok, hatiz ur es wa teuz duzmeh hu enu res", es res nom duzmeh nai tom, nom duzhiru nai rairu.
4. res muis nuz "tok, hatiz ur teuz hi kinizh es hi hozreh, hat hozreh we tok toi, es hatiz ur kium to hi men, baar ur muis haz ez fohiz en hu toizat.
5. Adim dik tok no hat itak dazro teuz hat kinizh es hat hozreh.
6. Adim nuz "hoz! hat itak hito, zab itak nom hi nuzh; es res hi muz hat rih, un nure has hum res muz res esu muz zak tak."
7. Tok! hatiz ur dik, es hatwai madoz res nuzh, en hat bak res nu ubnez muis nuzh.
8. Ta hat, Adim fohiz res bi hatwai en toizat zab zat, es res haz nu teuz hat kinizh
9. Ta hat bi, hat hozreh re men ez bez Babel; Ta Adim hatwai madoz toizat itak re nuzh fohiz res bi hatwai en toizat zab zat.

Kah

Tau yula kwambe le yuka kwa

now world whole have language one

ai aka nyoshi.

and speech common

Eta uyu nudora tinuno,

when people migrate east

henyun huan la Shinaran ai nudora lai.

find plain be at Shanar and migrate there

Yunyo ka noyom:

they say each other

"Lo, om jam duzu ai shanzu tuntu."

foc, adh make brick and bake thorough

Za duzu yompo adu, ai toisau yompo doshum.

take brick instead of stone, and tar instead of mortar

Tai ka: "Lo, om jando walonyo dola

then say: foc, adh build ourselves city

ya le wendo ya deche tilan,

it have tower it reach heaven

eno jam walonyo senka

in order to make ourselves name

ai eno al nong membe wanyo

and in order imps not scatter us

tunu kuchi na yula kwambe,"

across surface of world whole

Esto Tifa vunu

"but lord descend

eno yun dola ai wendo be uyu jando ya.

in order to look city and tower top people build it

Tifa ka: "Tonto shi unyo kwa

"lord say: if like people one

la kaza yuka kwashi,

be at speak language same

yunyo nuku jam awau,

they start do this

tontoye yayang be yunyo jankuren jam ya teneng tos yunyo.

in that case nothing top they plan do it be impossible considering them

Lo, om vunu ai moren yuka na yunyo.

foc, adh descend and confuse language of them

eno nong ke jebo noyom,"

in order that not opt understand each other

Echu Tifa membe yunyo chu lai tunu yula kwambe,

so lord scatter them from there across world whole

ai yunyo bas jando dola.

and they stop build city

Amun chumunye en al kaka Babal --

reason because of that that imps call Babel

chumun lai Tifa moren yuka na yula kwambe.

because there lord confuse language of world whole

Chu lai Tifa membe yunyo tunu kuchi na yula kwambe.

from there lord scatter them across surface of world whole.

Minhast

1. Mattim šūmī min kirim šarraktī, irriyērum kastarmaharaban, wa'attim.
2. Wahēk, redad wayyaħna min ambunistikī yalkikmiraban, Šinarkī takušš naħkisaššiatikkenaru.
3. Indikirišmattararannamā: "Iggar išpisaxtakyatapirmannēruš." Mattim iggar, hambin banak. Mattim issik, hambin nayyapi.
4. Indikirišmattararannamā: "Hawassabummurratħakaš, šuxtānaran tuyye amandimahampinaft hawassaptirħakuš. Hintirissakšarmakkakannimmāš šarratim suharaktikī tandikaħsaħptarikmaš."
5. Wahēk, Šuxtānim Ikkūne hārannimā, ummurrat sut tuyyēran sararampi, išpiħyimannarunaft sarmannaru.
6. Wahēk, Šuxtānim Ikkūne kirimarannamā: "Sapim redad šūmikman, šūmī min kirimaran ittaħšikman, indikanawikmabampi, rearan markanawikminesampiš."
7. "Wahēk, iknahakmannimāš, kirinseššente haradaknesunimmāš, kirimtarseššentēran ikšempihikminesampiš."
8. Wahēk, Šuxtānim Ikkūnē išpiknatarkennarunimmā ummurratiyār iknikmaran.
9. Attim waggabgabalaram hittinristirħaku, Šuxtānim Ikkūnē kirimseššente išpikšempiharu, šarrat min suharaktillidēran išpiknatarkennaru.

Cumbraek

(Genesis 11: 1-9)

1. A lavre er oll vit oun yeth ag er oun lavrant.
   And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech.
2. A pann deythyent dhiamm er dooren, oo cassant wostat in tir Shinar a thrigent enayth.
   And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
3. A gwoat poap du'y gilidh "Dowit, gwraem bridhveyn ag ow pebi in tan". Ag aidh pridhveyn in'le meyn a fik in'le morhtell.
   And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.
4. A gwedent "Dowit, adeylem dhin a thur a estinn i benn du'r nev; a chuhaitthem an anuw rak an skaro truw oll diredh er bit.
   And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
5. A diskennas er Reen du welet er dhin a'r tur a adeylent vebyon Adhav.
   And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built.
6. A gwoat "Sleman! Edh int oun bobul ag ema oun yeth dudhou; a ru chuhwinnsant i wreyth a ne difegyant ow emchen cuhit e cuwlheir ow gweyth."
   And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
7. "Dowit, diskennen ag adrisso ow yeth mal nar jalht poap lavrant i gilidh."
   Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
8. Mal hunn es skaras er Reen o'r le hunnedh truw oll diredh er bit; a difegsant adeylet er dhin.
   So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
9. Mal hunn edh aidh Babel i hanuw, in'edrip edh adrissas er Reen yeth er oll vit ag o'r le hunnedh es skaras er Reen troas enep pop wladedh.
   Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Clofabosin

1. sertib pretricib ampazone esofos luxedanium esofos serotinazole.
2. ampazin docelone distusermin, Sinar:ib elcalocine pidezolast flufib letazole.
3. ampazin aferone epazilin: "capline galelukast gadotovacacog." fluzin capline uldac epsozolast cispine braxistac epsozole.
4. cefast epazilin: "benzine fexolukast cesopladib vexafulven mixicil piroline fexocog. ezastiline rupacalukast pretricosetron amitilitucog."
5. beta tropin ampazin fexozil benzium piroline carsapropirdine binizole.
6. tropin epazilin: "esofos metin esofos luxedane serolukast cefcastim draxorovir. cefkalant fluzin glicapromab elucaine octatecaforcept."
7. binilukast fluluxedane nivalukast, fluzin aferine mavritumab cacog."
8. cefast tropin flufisant fluzine pretricosetron amitizolast, fluzin benzine fexocine idozole.
9. cefase flubenzone "Bavel" epatinib. calan tropin flufib pretricol luxedane nivarotidine eparin. flufisant tropin fluzine pretricosetron amitizole.

Gloss

sertib pretricib ampazone esofos luxedanium esofos serotinazole.

sertib pre-tric-ib amp-az-one esofos luxedan-ium esofos sero-t-ina-zole

time-LOC all-world-LOC person-PL-DAT one language-and one speak-NOMZ-COP-PST.IND

ampazin docelone distusermin, Sinar:ib elcalocine pidezolast flufib letazole.

amp-az-in docel-one distu-sermin, Sinar-ib elca-loc-ine pide-zolast fluf-ib let-azole

person-PL-NOM east-DAT move-PST.while Shinar-LOC flat-land-ACC find-PST.CONJ there-LOC settle-PST.IND

ampazin aferone epazilin: "capline galelukast gadotovacacog." fluzin capline uldac epsozolast cispine braxistac epsozole.

amp-az-in afer-one epa-zil-in: capl-ine gale-lukast gado-tovaca-cog. fluz-in capl-ine uld-ac epso-zolast cisp-ine braxist-ac epso-zole

person-PL-NOM each_other-DAT say-PST.ATTR-NOM brick-ACC make-PRES.CONJ well-fire-COHORT that.PL-NOM brick-ACC stone-as use-PST.CONJ tar-ACC cement-CONJ use-PST.IND

cefast epazilin: "benzine fexolukast cesopladib vexafulven mixicil piroline fexocog. ezastiline rupacalukast pretricosetron amitilitucog."

cefast epa=zil-in: benz-ine fexo-lukast ceso-pladib vexa-fulven mixi-cil pirol-ine fexo-cog ez-astili-ne rupa-ca-lukast pre-trico-setron amiti-li-tu-cog

then say-PST.ATTR-NOM city-ACC build-PRES.CONJ that.SG.INAN-inside sky-until rise-FUT.ATTR tower-ACC build-COHORT 1PL-name-ACC hear-CAUS-FUT.CONJ whole-world-throughout scatter-PASS-NEG.IRR-COHORT

beta tropin ampazin fexozil benzium piroline carsapropirdine binizole.

beta trop-in amp-az-in fexo-zil benz-ium pirol-ine carsa-pro-pirdine bini-zole

but god-NOM person-PL-NOM build-PST.ATTR city-and tower-ACC observe-DES-PST.QUOT descend-PST.IND

tropin epazilin: "esofos metin esofos luxedane serolukast cefcastim draxorovir. cefkalant fluzin glicapromab elucaine octatecaforcept."

trop-in epa-zil-in eso-fos met-in eso-fos luxeda-ne sero-lukast cef-ca-stim draxo-ro-vir cef-kalant fluz-in gli-ca-promab elucaine octa-teca-for-cept

god-NOM say-PST.ATTR-NOM one-CLF tribe-NOM one-CLF language-ACC speak-PRES.CONJ this-do-RES start-PERF-PRES.IND this-in_view_of that.PL-NOM what-do-DES.PRES.SUBJ regardless_of that.PL-ACC prevent-can-NEG-FUT

binilukast fluluxedane nivalukast, fluzin aferine mavritumab cacog."

bini-lukast flu-luxeda-ne niva-lukast fluz-in afer-ine mavri-tu-mab cacog

descend-PRES.CONJ their-language-ACC confuse-PRES.CONJ that.PL-NOM each_other-ACC understand-NEG.IRR-SUBJ do-COHORT

cefast tropin flufisant fluzine pretricosetron amitizolast, fluzin benzine fexocine idozole.

cefast trop-in fluf-isant fluz-ine pre-trico-setron amiti-zolast fluz-in benz-ine fexo-cine ido-zole

then god-NOM there-from that.PL-ACC whole-world-throughout scatter-PST.CONJ that.PL-NOM city-ACC build-VN-ACC stop-PST.IND

cefase flubenzone "Bavel" epatinib. calan tropin flufib pretricol luxedane nivarotidine eparin. flufisant tropin fluzine pretricosetron amitizole.

cefase flu-benz-one B. epa-tinib cala-n trop-in fluf-ib pre-tric-ol luxeda-ne niva-ro-tidine epar-in fluf-isant trop-in fluz-ine pre-trico-setron amiti-zole

hence that-city-DAT B. say-GNOM.IND reason-NOM god-NOM there-LOC whole-world-GEN language-ACC confuse-PERF-GNOM.QUOT saying-NOM there-from god-NOM whole-world-throughout scatter-PST.IND

Atlantic

1. Hiva la tiara universa nimba uniha i paralbos meṭissimos.
2. I cu ilus aḍ prihori êxu orinti, invinirunt nu champ nila tiara de Sennaar i ivi haiṭoirunt.
3. I ail ommun âl proxim seu: "Viniṭi, faxomu laṭiris i cofomu-sus nil foh." I hoibirunt laṭiris loh dâ saxa i biṭumi loh dû cement.
4. I aîrunt: "Viniṭi, faxomu pro nuis nu chastr i una turi, cuj culmi pirtingal âl char, i faxomu pro nuis nu numi, prop non spargerimu-s pass incopa suprifixi dâ tiara universa."
5. Foṭê pu discensil il Sinyuri, i viḍeil lu chastr i la turi, pu lus filyuarus dil hom eḍifihoirunt,
6. i aîl il Sinyuri: "Visê pu il vulg ê un, i una ê di tuṭus la nimba; i lûnc ê lu princifi di opraxuni ilur, i dincis fuṭur-ris non ê pass dificiri, fairi lu pu cinxarint.
7. Viniṭi îṭur, discendomu i cunfundomu nimba ilur, prop sit-pi-fuaril non intilixaril pass la vuxi dil proxim seu".
8. Foṭê pu il Sinyuri sparsit-rus ex ivi incopa suprifixi dâ tiara universa, i pu ilus cissoirunt cu aḍ eḍifihori lu chastr.
9. I an cunsefil pu lûric loh cîssil di Babel, pupro ivi cunfusa fuch la nimba dâ tiara universa, i ex ivi il Sinyuri sparsit-rus incopa suprifixi dâ tiara universa.

Oscanez

• E tot o munt tenea una yenua ei era d'una palara.

and entire the.MAS.SG world have-INDIC.IPFV.3RD.SG one-FEM.SG language and be.INDIC.IPFV.3RD.SG of-one-FEM.SG word

• E pasó, con elos partiron d'orient, che trobaron un campo na terra de Xinar, e s'estayeciron elaz.

and happen-INDIC.PFV.3RD.SG when they.MAS.PL leave-INDIC.PFV.3RD.PL of-east that find-INDIC.PFV.3RD.PL one.MAS.SG plain in.the.FEM.SG land of Shinar, and REFL.3RD-establish-INDIC.PFV.3RD.PL there

• Se dijeron los uns a los otros, "Ir, fagamos selos e cuijinemos-os con fuiz. E utiyisaron selos como piela, e bedún como mortar.

REFL.3RD-say-INDIC.PFV.3RD.PL the.MAS.PL one-PL to the.MAS.PL other.MAS.PL go-IMP.2ND.PL make-IMP.1ST.PL brick.PL and cook-IMP.1ST.PL-it.ACC.MAS.PL with fire and use-PFV.3RD.PL brick.PL as stone and bitumen as mortar

• E dijeron, "alemos, constramos-nuis una cibdat e una torre, de che la cabeja toca o cielo. E fagamos-nuis un nonye, poraché no nos siamos dispersats sóbel tot o munt.

and say-INDIC.PFV.3RD.PL go-IMP.1ST.PL build-IMP.1ST.PL-we.DAT.PL one-FEM.SG city and one-FEM.SG tower of which the.FEM.SG head touch-INDIC.PRES.3RD.PL the.MAS.SG sky and make-IMP.1ST.PL-we.DAT.PL one.MAS.SG name so-that NEG we.REFL be.SUBJ.PRES.1ST.PL disperse-PST.PTCP.PL over entire.MAS.SG the.MAS.SG world

• Vinye Lo Senyor pol veer la cibdat constrida polos fiyos de los honyes.

come-INDIC.PFV.3RD.SG the.title.MAS.SG lord to see.INF the.FEM.SG city build.PST.PTCP.FEM.SG by-the.MAS.PL son.PL of the.MAS.PL man.PL

• Dije Lo Senyor "veer ací, la gent en una, e tienen son mesma yenua, e comenjan fajel est. E agora no será imposible rená ch'elos alen voyer fajel."

say-INDIC.PFV.3RD.SG the.title.MAS.SG lord see-IMP.2ND.PL here the.FEM.SG people be.INDIC.PRES.3RD.SG one.FEM.SG and have-INDIC.PRES.3RD.PL their same.FEM.SG language and begin.INDIC.PRES.3RD.PL do.INFV this.NEUT and now NEG be-INDIC.FUT.3RD.SG impossible nothing which-they.MAS.PL go-SUBJ.PRES.3RD.PL want-INF do-INF

• Ir, decenamos e confonamos son yenua poraché no puida entener negún la yenua del otro."

go-IMP.2ND.PL descend-IMP.1ST.PL and confuse-IMP.1ST.PL their language so-that NEG can-SUBJ.PRES.3RD.SG understand-INF nobody the.FEM.SG language of-the.MAS.SG other

• E os dispersó Lo Senyor sóbel la faja da terra, e cesaron constrel la cibdat.

and they.ACC.MAS.PL the.title.MAS.SG lord over the.FEM.SG face of-the.FEM.SG earth and stop-INDIC.PFV.3RD.PL build-INF the.FEM.SG city

• Elo en polché se xame Babel, polché Lo Senyor elaz confonuí la yenua de tot o munt, e os dispersó d'elaz sóbel tot la terra.

it be-INDIC.PRES.3RD.SG why REFL.3RD call-SUBJ.PRES.3RD.SG Babel because the.title.MAS.SG lord there confuse-INDIC.PFV.3RD.SG the.FEM.SG language of entire the.MAS.SG world and they.ACC.MAS.PL disperse-INDIC.PFV.3RD.SG of-there over entire the.FEM.SG earth