UBS Releases Latest Bible Translation Figures (fwd)

Sat Feb 12 21:59:33 UTC 2005

UBS Releases Latest Bible Translation Figures

The Bible in its complete form is now available in 422 languages - an
increase of 8 since last year.

February 12, 2005
http://www.christiantoday.com/news/miss/253.htm

The United Bible Society (UBS) published the 2004 Scripture Language
Report earlier this week. The report reveals that bible translation is
in steady progress and has benefited individuals as well as indigenous
communities.

According to the report, the Bible in its complete form is now available
in 422 languages - an increase of 8 since last year. In addition,
translations of Testaments have now been registered in 1,079 languages,
compared with 1,068 at the end of 2003.

Overall, including complete or partial form, the Bible is now available
in 2,377 languages, compared with 2,355 a year ago. Out of the 6,500
languages that are spoken around the world, 422 completely translated
Bibles available may seem to be quite small. However, USB highly
appreciates what has already been achieved so far and celebrates the
steady growth.

It is important to look forward to the future with hope because the
number of translated Bible in partial form is in fact very high, which
indicates that the translation of many more languages are in fact
underway.

The 2004 Scripture Language Report is compiled by UBS. It is based on
the publications that have been registered and added to one of the two
official Bible Society deposit libraries, namely the American Bible
Society in New York and the British and Foreign Bible Society in
Cambridge, England.

In 2004, all the eight newly translated complete Bibles are destined to
bring joy to various communities in the South Pacific. General
Secretary of the Bible Society in the South Pacific Solomone Duru said
that the release of the 2004 report reminded them how important UBS’s
dedicated, painstaking work is to members of communities which have not
previously had access to God's Word in their own language.

A translation project on Ranonga, a small and remote island in the
Solomon Islands has resulted in the launch of the New Testament in
Lungga, the local language, in July 2004.

"Many old men and women of Ranonga openly wept tears of joy as they
heard Acts 8 being read in their own language for the first time," Duru
testified.

Another world renowned Bible translator Wycliffe International is also
running the programme Vision 2025. By the year 2025, together with
partners worldwide, it aims to see a Bible translation program begun in
all the remaining languages that need one. Wycliffe International's
work is to facilitate the translation of God's Word into every language
that needs it. Currently, 1500 more translation projects representing
over 70 countries, are in progress.

[inset - statistical summary]

Eunice K. Y. Or
eunice at christiantoday.com