Translating Amidst Conflicts

Translation has been a key focus of the Society’s work since its earliest days. Over the decades, there have been difficulties such as paper shortages, communication, postal services, and funding, but we rejoice that translations have been published despite obstacles.

During WWII we saw new publications including the Kashmiri Gospel according to Luke, the Balti Gospel according to Mark, the colloquial Arabic Gospel according to Luke, and leaflets in languages such as Greek and Telugu. During this time, a particularly important project was the Hebrew-English New Testament, using the Salkinson-Ginsburg Hebrew New Testament text. In 1943 it was reported that,

The Hebrew-English New Testament is a testimony to the power of God and the goodness of God; born in this time of sorrow and distress! How wonderful it is that God should have enabled us to bring it out for His ancient people in their time of great suffering and agony. What better can we do than show them the place of refuge and comfort and source of all joy in their Lord.

Today, the ongoing Gaza war reminds us of the urgency to complete our revised Hebrew New Testament and the digitisation of our Arabic Bible. Both sides of the conflict need faithful copies of the Scriptures. Thus far our Hebrew New Testament has been typeset and is currently being proofread by members of the Hebrew team. Lord willing, it will be published later this year or early next year. Our Arabic New Testament has been published on our online Bible, and we have digitised the Old Testament up to Ruth.

‘And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God’ (Hosea 2.23).

How to pray for these projects:

• For the Hebrew team as they proofread and finalise the revised New Testament. Pray for accuracy and speed during the checking process, and the subsequent publication (print, audio, and digital).
• For the digitisation of the Arabic Old Testament, and that the digital Scriptures will be a blessing to many Arabic speakers throughout the Middle East.
• For all our translators, revisers, and teams working faithfully in difficult and dangerous circumstances.