Praying for God’s Word in Every Heart Language

Honoring the Work of Bible Translators on International Translation Day

Did you know that millions of people around the world still don’t have a single verse of Scripture in their own language?

International Translation Day, observed on September 30, honors the work of translators and language professionals around the world. The date falls on the feast of St. Jerome (347-420 A.D.), one of the earliest Bible translators. He had a passion for language and the Scriptures, translating most of the Bible into Latin.

Praise God, there are faithful men and women around the world who, like St. Jerome, have a passion for translating God’s Word for others. Today, there are 1,575 languages still in need of Bible translation—and our goal is to have Scripture in each of these languages open and available by 2026.

We invite you to join in prayer for this enormous undertaking. Pray for the translators, technology, training, resources, and funds needed so that the millions still waiting for God’s Word don’t have to wait any longer.

Let’s Pray Together:

Father, thank you for the tireless work of translators who long to make your Word available to the remaining languages that do not yet have Scripture. Grant them strength, joy and wisdom for the task. We lift up these specific requests from our fellow Bible Societies, as they long to serve you through the work of this ministry:

  • Bible Society of Burkina Faso: Pray for the Lyélé, Bissa, and Birifor translation projects and for the publication of the Bible in Dagara.
  • Chilean Bible Society: Pray for the translation project of the Old Testament into the Mapudungun language of the Mapuche people.
  • Bible Society of Costa Rica: Pray for the Bible translation into the Nögbe language for the Nögbe people in the south of the country.
  • Bible Society of Ghana: Pray for the Bono Bible translation project and other ongoing Bible translations.
  • Bible Society of Namibia: Pray for the Oshiwambo Bible translation as it moves forward, along with necessary funding.
  • Norwegian Bible Society: Pray for the final stages of the Bible translation into Northern Sami and the translation projects into Lule Sami and Southern Sami.
  • New Zealand Bible Society: Give thanks for the ongoing translation work of the Bible in contemporary Māori and the publication of the Tokelauan Bible.
  • Thailand Bible Society: Pray for the translation of Acts into Thai Sign Language, scheduled to finish in 2019. Pray for the full revision of the Pentateuch in Thai-Urak Lawoi.

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Nena Podbury
Nena Podbury

Nena Podbury is a Prayer Mobilization Associate at American Bible Society. Originally from the Bronx, she served in children’s ministry for 12 years doing Sidewalk Sunday School. Nena is married with two children, Noah and Emilia.

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