At Bible Society, sharing the Good News with people who live here and overseas, in languages and formats that are accessible and meaningful, is part of our mission.
Often, translation is painstaking work. It takes six years to translate the New Testament and around a decade to translate the Old Testament. Teams of local people have to be trained on translation software, must agree on how to refer to common phrases and have to take on the arduous work of translating a book.
But the outcome of this effort can be extraordinary.
You see, language goes right to the core of who we are. It's through language that we express ourselves, make ourselves heard.
So having the Word of God written down in your language not only shows the value and importance of your language, it also speaks deeply to your very identity. In Jamaica, for example, a project is underway to translate the Bible into Patois.
Not only will this put Scripture in the everyday language of millions of Jamaicans, it also says to them that their language is official. It says their language is worthy of carrying the truths and depths of meaning found in the Bible. And that speaks powerfully to their identity and sense of worth.
Bible Societies around the world are involved in up to 550 translations at any one time. Some meet the needs of millions, while others cater for minority and neglected people. A few will support work in countries with highly sensitive political situations that we can't even name.
This work will put Bibles into people's hands for the first time. It will give them access to God's life-changing message. This work will end the wait for millions.
Claire Smith is Head of Communications at Bible Society.
To find out more or to donate to Bible Society's translation work, visit www.biblesociety.org.uk
