Today we rejoice that amid the challenges and disruption caused by COVID-19 in 2020, Scripture translation was completed in 66 languages used by 707 million people.

This amazing work to translate God’s Word into languages that still have no portion of Scripture is being done by United Bible Societies—a world-wide network of around 150 independent Bible Societies in over 240 countries and territories. For 75 years, the mission of United Bible Societies has been to make the life-giving words of the Bible available to everyone. And 2020 was no different!

God’s Word Brings Hope in a Challenging Year

Though COVID-19 posed many threats to Bible translation work for many Bible Societies, God’s grace and your prayers enabled this critical work to continue. We celebrate that in 2020

• new Scripture translations were completed in 46 languages with a potential reach of 13 million people,
• six language groups received the full Bible for the first time,
• the American Sign Language Bible was completed for the Deaf community, and
• New Testaments were completed in 11 more languages used by four million people.

Two of the New Testaments completed were the Epie and Ogbia New Testaments by the Bible Society of Nigeria. Ogbia speaker John Okolubo said, “This New Testament in our mother tongue will aid literacy and encourage our youth and others to understand the Word of God. Without it, it was like we lacked God’s presence, but with it we have reached the promised land.”

The full Bible is now available in 704 languages used by 5.7 billion people. Another 825 million people have the New Testament in their heart language, and 450 million people have some portions of Scripture.

We praise God that millions of people all over the world now have access to Scripture in their heart language to carry them through challenging times. But there is still more work to be done. We invite you to join us as we pray for more than one billion people who still do not have a full Bible in their heart language.

Let’s Pray Together

Father, thank you for your faithfulness in helping Bible Societies translate Scripture so people around the world may experience its hope. We pray that those who engage with Scripture will be encouraged and transformed by its message. And we also pray that you will strengthen, equip, and protect Bible Societies as they continue to provide your Word so everyone will experience its life-giving message.