November 28

As you point out, a literal translation is often a bad one because it can produce a phraseology or imagery that would convey the wrong impression, thus a translator is at times compelled to convey the meaning of the original by means of a form of words suited to the language. However, a person translating the Bahá’í Writings must always bear in mind that he or she is dealing with the Word of God, and, when striving to convey the meaning of the original, he should exert his utmost to make his rendering both faithful and befitting. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 29 October 1973 to an individual believer, compilation: ‘Translation - Literary Style’, prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice)