‘More than one new Bible or New Testament launched every week’ that is the amazing claim in the recently published report (2021-22) of Wycliffe Bible Translators (wycliffe.org.uk).
Behind the news is the unflinching commitment of hundreds of translators and back-up workers with the financial and prayer support of thousands around the world.
They all want to see the word of God made available, translated into more and more of the 7368 languages spoken in the world today.
Other progress is reported in that the complete Bible – Old and New Testaments – is now available in 717 languages (up from 704 last year) while 1582 languages now have the New Testament.
Work has begun and is continuing in nearly 3000 more languages.
At a technical level, the work is largely possible because of significant developments in computer
technology which really speeds up the work of translating koine Greek into target languages.
One final verdict needs to be recorded after the bare facts and statistics of an annual report – the reaction of those for whom the word of God has been newly published in their heart language.
Let just one person speak for all –
Dinara (not her real name) is a Yakar Christian who says “When I read Ecclesiastes in Russian I can understand everything, but when I read it in Yakar (not the real name), my own language, it becomes so close and touches me so deeply as if my own parents were speaking to me and I have shivers running up and down my spine. Thank you for this book !”
(Discretion is de rigueur in many countries, thus the name changes)