If I were a translator, I would always use test in relation to God and tempt in relation to Satan. Of course, the religious leaders tested Jesus, which makes sense. They weren't always trying to get him to sin, but their intentions were malicious. Yeah, it's ambiguous. It's better just to use the Greek word and let the context determine the meaning, lol.
You are a translator and have every right to work in the Text. Learning Greek can be tough, but I doubt it's out of your abilities.
I don't know if the choice is as cut and dry as "always," but I've had the same thought.
Many of us have thought the same about just using the Greek here and there as you say. Some of us in fact do so. When I was teaching I always brought out these seemingly ambiguous words and delved into them in extensive word studies to sort them out as best we could. I often found those who sat with me would latch onto some of these words and just end up using them as you say. Some still use them in email addresses and such. When we speak we can still recall all the work we did and the meanings we ended up with and how full our thinking is on the topic.
I've never done the comprehensive work on peirazo. Comparably, it's probably not that tough. One thing, unless it's speaking of the one doing the tempting, it's likely always in the passive voice, so it's not us doing the tempting, but something apart from us attempting to tempt us. How are we at fault for this? Even if it's our own desires doing the tempting/testing, we're told to handle the matter, so there is a separation between us and our desires - IOW our desires are not necessarily us. Read Paul in Romans 7 and see how he's discussing this and how he determines there is something in him that is not him.
It's likely that to study this out would reveal why we don't want to always go with one translation or another. One verse that probably does deserve to be translated as tempt vs. test is James 1:13. As Clare and I discussed, God does test (Hebrews 11:17 (?) and He allows testing (1 Corinthians 10:13), but He does not tempt to evil (James 1:14). In this context, that comes from inside of us per 1:14 (but it is not us).
You should do the study and tell us the conclusion. I think we'd find that "test" is predominately the meaning and "tempt" is used to denote failing the test (as in James 1:13). This is why 1:14 says God cannot be tempted of evil (He cannot fail against evil even when plenty attempt to test Him) and He tempts no one (He is not responsible for our failing a test and thus being tempted - It's not His will for us to fail). Here's the list of NT verses from one Greek manuscripts version:
NKJ Matt. 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
NKJ Matt. 4:3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."
NKJ Matt. 16:1 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.
NKJ Matt. 19:3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?"
NKJ Matt. 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?
NKJ Matt. 22:35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying,
NKJ Mk. 1:13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.
NKJ Mk. 8:11 Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him.
NKJ Mk. 10:2 The Pharisees came and asked Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" testing Him.
NKJ Mk. 12:14 When they had come, they said to Him, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
NKJ Lk. 4:2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.
NKJ Lk. 11:16 Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.
NKJ Lk. 20:23 But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Why do you test Me?
NKJ Jn. 6:6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
NKJ Jn. 8:4 they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.
NKJ Jn. 8:6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
NKJ Acts 5:9 Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."
NKJ Acts 15:10 "Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
NKJ Acts 16:7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.
NKJ Acts 24:6 "He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law.
NKJ 1 Cor. 7:5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
NKJ 1 Cor. 10:9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;
NKJ 1 Cor. 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
NKJ 2 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?-- unless indeed you are disqualified.
NKJ Gal. 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
NKJ 1 Thess. 3:5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.
NKJ Heb. 2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
NKJ Heb. 3:9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years.
NKJ Heb. 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
NKJ Heb. 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented--
NKJ Jas. 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
NKJ Jas. 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
NKJ Rev. 2:2 "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
NKJ Rev. 2:10 "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
NKJ Rev. 3:10 "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.