Freelance writer or translator or both?

Should freelance writers accept freelance writing jobs which involve the translation of a foreign language into English if they aren’t professional translators and don’t have any knowledge of the foreign language they are translating from?

I’ve been offered a job which involves translating newspaper articles from a foreign language into English. I don’t have any knowledge of the foreign language but as a photojournalist I do have experience of writing newspaper articles.

Quality of free translation service

A few thoughts, mostly conflicting:
It’s pretty easy to translate any foreign language into English, there are quite a few free translation programs on the Web.
These free translation programs can only translate the foreign language into very basic English, they can’t translate any nuances, any inflexions, any subtle meanings, which might exist in the original article.
This is irrelevant; the basic translation will be good enough to give me an idea of any inflexions which might exist in the original article. I can re-write these inflexions, enhance them, into a readable style of English.
The basic translation won’t be good enough to give me an idea of any inflexions which might exist in the original article. It will only supply a few basic nouns and verbs, it won’t supply more complex adjectives or adverbs which might give me an idea of any inflexions whiich might exist in the original article.

Freelance writer’s inaccurate translation

Any adjectives or adverbs which I inject into the article might be inaccurate. This might have the effect of giving the article the wrong `angle’. The client might not agree with this angle, with  the writer’s interpretation of the original article.

Ethics of freelance writers in role of translator

It’s unethical for freelance writers to offer a translation service if they aren’t professional translators.
They should explain to the client that they aren’t professional translators, that they will have to use a free translation service.

Ethics of translators in role of freelance writers

It’s unethical for professional translators to offer a freelance writing service. English might not be their first language, so they might not be capable of writing in a fluid, readable style of English.
They should explain to the client that they aren’t professional freelance writers, that English isn’t their first language.

Quality of writing more important than quality of translation

The client might not be concerned about the fact that the freelancer isn’t a professional translator.
He might half-expect the freelancer to use a free translation program. He might be more concerned about the final product - about the style of English in the translated article, about how readable it is.
*This post is to be posted on various freelance writing forums