Question for those in Germany

[SPC-1]

I am wanting to get a tattoo in German but I dont trust the translator on my computer. It will say "Known unto God" but I need the correct spelling. Can any of you help please.

[thomas26]

The best translation would be:

Nur Gott weiß warum
or
Das weiß nur Gott


"ß" is the german letter "sz". In some cases we use it instead of "ss". It's pronounced like a normal "s"
In that spezial case you have to use the "ß", because behind a doulbe vowel we have to use a "ß" instead of "ss"

[Prussian]

@thomas26: "Known unto God" is the traditional British inscription on the tombstones of unknown soldiers.
I.e. "Only God knows who is buried here".

Nur Gott weiß warum - "Only God knows why" and Das weiß nur Gott - "That only God knows" don't convey the same meaning.

@SPC-1: I would think of Kipling's "Known unto God" as poetry. And poetry can not be "translated" it must be "re-created in another language".

And there is no equivalent dictum in German -- the gravestones of unknown German soldiers are simply marked "Unbekannt" (unknown).