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How to Pray for Bible Translation in Progress
To help you pray for the nations. As we pray for nations where there are still Bibleless peoples, or where there is unfinished work, we are tilling the spiritual soil or climate of that place, making it easier and more likely for the Gospel to take root and flourish. · "Why Pray…?" From Ethne to Ethne Harvest: http://www.ethne.net/resources/03-en/brochures/Brochv4.pdf · Prayer obeys Jesus' command to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers. · Prayer brings us into God's presence, which changes us. · Prayer reveals to us God's plans so we can cooperate with Him in them. · Prayer invites God's participation and presence in the process. · Prayer removes hindrances to the Gospel. · Prayer prepares the hearts of unbelievers to hear the Good News. · Prayer releases resources necessary to accomplish the task. · Prayer insures protection for workers and their work. · Prayer releases spiritual power to fulfill the call. · Prayer exercises divine authority to change situations and people. · Prayer IS the battle. · Prayer maintains the victory. If your mission committee or group is interested to partnership or pray for a particular Bible Translation Project, please contact Daniel_Lai@sil.org to get more information. HEALTH Pray that those selected to be part of a translation committee will enjoy good health. Pray that their immediate and extended families will also have good health. "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul." ESV 3 John 2 PURITY It is a tragic loss to the Body of Christ, as well as to the translation process, when a translation team member succumbs to a moral lapse. Please pray that each team member will be sustained in his/her walk with the Lord so that each remains in vital union with Christ. "But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints." ESV Ephesians 5:3 PERSEVERANCE So many competing things can call for the attention of translation team members. Pray that the translation teams will remain focused, clear-minded and able to stick with the work at hand. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us," ESV Hebrews 12:1 COMMUNICATION People working on translation of the Bible must be in harmony with one another, united in spirit, and able to clearly hear each other's suggestions. "Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance," ESV Proverbs 1:5 ACCURACY Pray that individual translation team members will produce accurate rendering of the Scripture. "So those who were engaged in the work labored, and the repairing went forward in their hands, and they restored the house of God to its proper condition and strengthened it." ESV 2 Chronicles 24:13 KEY TERMS Many common nouns, such as water, food, man, woman, et al, are usually straightforward. But it is often difficult to translate 'key terms' in the Bible such as angel, justify, or salvation. Pray for the Holy Spirit to illuminate the minds of the translators to choose and agree upon the best choice for difficult key terms. "The Lord…gave me understanding in all the details of the plan." "All this he made clear to me in writing from the hand of the Lord, all the work to be done according to the plan." ESV 1 Chronicles 28:19 PROTECTION AND PROVISION Pray for the Lord's sovereign protection of the entire process of the translation of the Bible into a given language. Pray for a good physical location where translation teams can work. Pray for any necessary equipment to be in good working condition. Pray for protection of each section of the Bible completed. Pray that nothing will be lost or stolen. Pray that the translation team members will have enough to live on as they work. "Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings," ESV Psalm 17:8 PRAY FOR DECISION-MAKERS PLANNING A BIBLE TRANSLATION PRAY FOR DECISION-MAKERS PLANNING A BIBLE TRANSLATION: How can it be determined if a language needs a Bible translation? Is the community bilingual? Can they use the Bible in another language? Is that translation acceptable to them? Is the language dying out? "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;." ESV Proverbs 2:6 PRAY FOR DECISION-MAKERS PLANNING A BIBLE TRANSLATION: If a translation is needed for a particular group, who will head the project? A mother-tongue translator? An expatriate? A 'national' who is not a mother-tongue speaker? All of these are possible in different situations. "Or Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding…" ESV Proverbs 14:33 PRAY FOR DECISION-MAKERS PLANNING A BIBLE TRANSLATION: What kind of project should it be: traditional —one person 'does' one language; a group of people with different and complementary skills work together; or a team supervises several related languages?"I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness." ESV Proverbs 4:11 PRAY FOR DECISION-MAKERS PLANNING A BIBLE TRANSLATION: If the translator is not a mother-tongue speaker of the language, how can language learning be done effectively in order to better understand the culture? So that local people may be trained? So that potential problems in the translation can be recognized? "he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;." ESV Daniel 2:21b PRAY FOR DECISION-MAKERS PLANNING A BIBLE TRANSLATION: Minority languages often consist of several dialects spoken across a wide area. Which dialect is understandable by the most people? Which dialect is socially acceptable to most people? An example from English is, "You are the salt of the earth;" "Y'all are the salt of the earth;" "Youse guys are the salt of the earth." "Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding." ESV Proverbs 10:23 PRAY FOR DECISION-MAKERS PLANNING A BIBLE TRANSLATION: Are there different language styles within the community? How can a translation be natural and make women sound like women, fishermen sound like fishermen and kings sound like kings? "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,to whom belong wisdom and might." ESV Daniel 2:20 PRAY FOR DECISION-MAKERS PLANNING A BIBLE TRANSLATION: What are government policies for languages in a given area? How can dialects and writing systems best be developed to be compatible with governments' plans to bring minorities into national life? "This also comes from the Lord of hosts;
he is wonderful in counsel
and excellent in wisdom." ESV Isaiah 28:29 PRAY FOR ACCURACY IN BIBLE TRANSLATION PRAY FOR ACCURACY IN BIBLE TRANSLATION. In one English translation, John 20:2 says, "They have taken away the Lord and we don't know where they have laid him." In the Bontoc language of the Philippines, to show that someone has died, two changes are necessary. It needs to read like this: "They have taken away the Lord's body and we don't know where they have put it." Otherwise, it sounds like Jesus did not really die. PRAY FOR ACCURACY IN BIBLE TRANSLATION. Translators and linguists need to use care when deciding on the written alphabet of a previously unwritten language. The Rotokas language in Papua New Guinea has 11 sounds needing symbols. The Xoo click language of South Africa has 127 sounds needing symbols. A good writing system makes it easier for people to learn to read. PRAY FOR ACCURACY IN BIBLE TRANSLATION. Translators must understand the different styles used in a language. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1. If the wrong style is used, a wrong meaning can be conveyed. For example in English, if one says, "Once upon a time, God created the heavens and the earth," that means it is not true, but only a fairy tale. The Bible contains history, letters (epistles), songs and poetry. Translators need skill to master and use the appropriate language styles. PRAY FOR ACCURACY IN BIBLE TRANSLATION. In Matthew 15:28, Jesus says, "Woman, you have great faith!" Which word would you choose for 'woman' in the Ziga language? Ziga terms of address: dahnuengx single girl younger than oneself daxceh single girl older than oneself mehsim married woman under 30 mehbaj married woman 30-50 mehlaux married woman 50-70 mehgeq very old woman PRAY FOR ACCURACY IN BIBLE TRANSLATION. A translation needs to sound natural. In English, one can say, "We went to my father Zeiba’s field." But in the Mona language of Ivory Coast, one needs to introduce a topic first, then comment on it. In order to sound natural in Mona, the sentence would read like this, "We went, and my father Zeiba, the place where his field is, we arrived there." Now it sounds natural in Mona. PRAY FOR ACCURACY IN BIBLE TRANSLATION. Even mother tongue translators need training in Bible translation. For example, they need to learn about Bible culture. One mother tongue translator thought about his own culture when translating Luke 24:2, "They found the stone rolled away from the tomb." The first attempt at the translation came out like this: "A small stone rolled off the top of the burial mound." Errors like these can and do happen in translations done by native speakers without a good knowledge of biblical culture. PRAY FOR ACCURACY IN BIBLE TRANSLATION. "At least something is better than nothing." A bad translation can be worse than no translation. Thank the Lord for workshops where translators can come together and receive training that leads to accurate translations of the Bible. "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15. HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (1) The translation of Scripture is a demanding task and needs constant prayer support from start to finish. Translators have noticed, however, that special difficulties seem to surface when translations near completion. What follows is a sampling of such problems to help you in praying for those involved. Satan is opposed to all God's purposes and certainly the translating of God's Word, the Bible, is one activity he will do all in his power to frustrate. Some problems are due to human frailty and sinfulness. Some may be simply mechanical or electrical glitches. Some problems may be spiritual or have a spiritual component. Satan may be the cause or he may exploit these to gain his ends. The list is not hypothetical. Every item mentioned has occurred to delay completion of some translation. HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (1). Pray for the stamina and health of translators, co-translators, their families and their children. "Be strong and courageous and do the work. Do not be afraid or be discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work…of the Lord is finished." 1 Chronicles 28:20 HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (1). Pray that scheduling of furloughs, administrative duties, and other urgent tasks will not interfere. "And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people…according to each day's need." 1 Kings 8:59. HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (1). Pray that aging parents, education of children, and family duties not be neglected. "…with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26b HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (1). Pray for translators having to leave the field or nationals having to return to school. "I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things." 2 Peter 1:15. HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (1). Pray for the finances needed to support the translators, pay the expenses, and publish the books. "This is what the Lord says —'I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.'" Isaiah 43:14, 19HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (1). Pray for final decisions on key terms to be acceptable to all concerned. "Everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way." 1 Corinthians 14:40 HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (1). Pray for involvement and consensus of denominations on wording, writing, and printing. "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" Psalm 133:1 HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (2). Pray for reconciliation of alphabets and alternate wordings, due to dialect differences. "For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." Proverbs 2:6 HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (2). Pray for authorizations and approvals by church authorities and governments where required. "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases." Proverbs 21:1 HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (2). Pray for translations being done in secret. Pray that God will protect the lives of those involved and their families. Jesus said, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." Matthew 24:14 HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (2). Pray concerning extreme weather conditions, like hurricanes and earthquakes, and the safety of manuscripts. "Teacher, don't you care if we drown? He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm." Mark 4:38-9 HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (2). Pray against wars and insurrections that render it impossible to continue the work. "I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country." Leviticus 26:6 HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (2). Pray against the outbreak of persecution against the mother-tongue workers involved. "When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall." Psalm 27:2 HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (2). Pray against technical failures of computers, storage disks, copiers, printers, and service items. "May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us —yes, establish the work of our hands." Psalm 90:17HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (3). Pray against technical failures of computers, storage disks, copiers, printers, and service items. Pray for printers, that inking, pagination and binding, may result in clear, useable, durable books. HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (3). Pray for readers to be available to give community checks on acceptability of the translation. HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (3). Pray for sufficient trained consultants so that the translation will not be delayed because of waiting for final approval. HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (3). Pray for accuracy of typesetters, often working with a language they do not understand. HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (3). Pray for proofreaders, that they may catch and correct errors that would mar the translation. HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (3). Pray that paper for printing may be available when the camera-ready copy arrives. Pray for the mailing and shipping, that damage or loss in transit, or delays in customs, may not occur. HOW TO PRAY FOR NEW TESTAMENTS NEARING COMPLETION (3). Pray for literacy workers to promote literacy and so relieve translators to finish the translation. Pray for local enthusiasm for the completion and publication that will urge the translators on. PRAY FOR LANGUAGE CLUSTER PROGRAMS. A language cluster program is a strategy that combines two or more languages under a single management or coordination team. The languages may be linguistically related, and/or from similar geographic regions or cultural backgrounds. Personnel may share workspace and resources such as personnel, computer support and printing facilities. Workshops can help meet the need of several language groups at the same time, and the increased interaction among language groups fosters understanding, synergy and planning coordination. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17 PRAY FOR LANGUAGE CLUSTER PROGRAMS. It is encouraging to see work moving forward in several languages at a time. The ownership remains much more with the people doing the work than with the supervisors. Those producing the materials develop expertise resulting in increased competence and confidence. "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15 PRAY FOR LANGUAGE CLUSTER PROGRAMS. Pray for capable and mature mother tongue translators. "I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another." Romans 15:14 PRAY FOR LANGUAGE CLUSTER PROGRAMS. Pray for adequate funding for travel, meals, lodging and materials. Pray for committed support and administrative teams. "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet." John 13:14 PRAY FOR LANGUAGE CLUSTER PROGRAMS. When more than two people serve as mentors and leaders, this leadership is called a 'macro team'. With a macro team, members can focus on their strengths. No one team has to be able to "do it all". For example, one might be gifted in working with the phonetic systems of languages; another might be good at exegesis (the critical interpretation of a text). With so many people sharing leadership, pray for harmonious relationships so the work will be accelerated, not hindered. "…each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that." 1 Corinthians 7:7 PRAY FOR LANGUAGE CLUSTER PROGRAMS. Pray that the program mentors would have insight, patience and wisdom. "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another." Zechariah 7:9 PRAY FOR LANGUAGE CLUSTER PROGRAMS. Pray that the indigenous communities or churches would be supportive of the programs. Pray that communities will receive the Scriptures in various mediums (print, video, tape) with enthusiasm. "Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop —thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown." Mark 4:20
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