La Palabra del Día: Empeñar
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Work must be done by yourself.
This thread is about YOUR ability not the ability of the translator. 
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My Example:
Cuando estuve en la universidad, unos estudiantes solían empeñar sus libros antes de la Navidad para comprar regalos, y entonces los compraban de nuevo antes del comienzo del semestre próximo. Siempre creía que estaban locos.
When I was in college, some students would pawn their books before Christmas in order to buy gifts, and then they would buy them back before the next semester began. I always thought they were crazy.
29 Answers
Mummy, I insist that you love me, not him.
Mamá, empeño en que me ames a mí, no a él.
(My version before corrections: Mamá, empeño en que me amas, no él.)
No te empeñes , odio hacer colas
Don't insist, I hate queuing
No, me empeño. Vamos a conducir a través el charco, es probablemente muy superficial.
No, I insist. Let's drive across the puddle, it's probably very shallow.
Amaba tanto el sombrero que decidió empeñar el resto de su vida en la aprendizaje de español.
Edit - gracias a Stephen 
Amaba tanto el sombrero que decidió empeñar el resto de su vida en el aprendizaje del español.
what do you know the gender got me again grrrrr! - 'el' aprendizaje
He loved the hat so much that he decided to dedicate the rest of his life to learning Spanish.
“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
La vida es muy simple, pero nos empeñamos en hacerla complicada
¡Los políticos ineptos han empeñado el futuro de nuestros hijos
The inept politicians have pawned our children's future!
Our company got into debt. However, we have reorganized the bookkeeping department and now our problem is solved . . . . . .
Nuestro compañía se ha empeñado. Sin embargo, hemos reorganizado el departamento de contabilidad y ahora se han resuelto nuestros problemas . . . . . .
Si tu empeñas, puedo tener uno de torte.
Corrected Version : Si tu empeñas, tendré un pedazo de torta.
If you insist I can have one bit of cake.
Cuando era jóven, de vez en cuando empeñaba mi reloj para tener dinero para el fin de semana.
When I was young, from time to time I would pawn my watch to have money for the weekend.
This is a long one for me, lets see how well it turns out.
Me empeño en que abra la boca o si no, no puedo curar sus caries dentaria.
I insist that you open your mouth, otherwise I can't cure your cavities.
Empeñar- to pawn Hay personas que empeñan sus joyas por mucho menos de lo que les costaron. There are people that pawn their jewelry for much less than the original price Empeñarse- To put your efforts into something Ella se empeñó en aprender español y lo logró. She put all her efforts into learning Spanish
Me empeño en que tengo buenas intenciones.A pesar de la evidencia.
I insist that I have good intentions. Despite the evidence.
Mi esposa se empeña en comprar nuestro vino en los viñedas viñedos porque prefiere el ambiente allá, pero (yo) creo que comprarlo en el supermercado es más fácil.
My wife insists on buying our wine at the vineyards because she prefers the atmosphere (ambiance) there, but I think that buying it in the supermarket is easier.
Yo placed in parentheses because, although I know the rules say not to use subject pronouns, that seemed like a good place to use one for emphasis.
Hemos ido a esto viñeda viñedo, pero sólo dos veces. We have gone to this winery, but only two times.
Muchas países se empeñaron hasta las cejas, y la situación está muy grave para ellos ahora.
Many countries have indebted themselves up to their eyebrows, and the situation is very serious for them now.
