Bible translations into Native American languages

Biblical translations into the indigenous languages of North and South America have been produced since the 16th century.

Algonquian languages

Abenaki

Mark, translated by Peter Wzokhilain, was printed in 1830. It was republished in 2011 by Jesse Bruchac.

Anishinaabemowin

Algonquin

Roger and Ruth Spielmann of Wycliffe Bible Translators together with local Algonquin people, translated a new translation into modern Algonquin. John was published in 1993. The complete New Testament was published in 1998.

Translation	John 3:16
Original text (vowel length shown)	Fiero Orthography
Spielmann 1998	Kije Manidò megà epìtci sàgiàdjin aȣiagòn, ogì pìdjinijaȣàn Ogȣizisan kà motci pejigondjin. Kakina dac aȣiagòg ke tebȣetaȣàdjin Kije Manidòn Ogȣizisini, kàȣìn kàda ȣanicisìȣag, tiegodj ogà aiànàȣà kàgige pimadiziȣini.	Gizhe-Manidoo megaa epiichi-zaagi'aajin awi'agoon, ogii-biijinizhawaan Ogwizisan gaa-mochi-bezhigonjin. Gakina dash awi'agoog ge-debwetawaajin Gizhe-Manidoo Ogwizisini, gaawiin gaada-wanishisiiwag, di-egoj ogaa-ayaanaawaa gaagige-bimaadiziwini.

Ojibwa

The first portion of the Bible in Ojibwa, part of the Algonquian language family in Canada, was the Gospels of St Matthew and St John, translated by Peter and John Jones and printed in 1829-31. There are three complete translations of the New Testament in this language: One by Edwin James in 1833, another by Henry Blatchford in 1844 (reprinted in 1856 and 1875), and a third by Frederick O'Meara in 1854 (reprinted in 1874). O'Meara also translated the Psalms (1856) and the Pentateuch (1861), and Robert McDonald translated the Twelve Minor Prophets (1874). Jim Keesic translated about fifty percent of the old testament, and revised the New Testament. This was published by the Canadian Bible Society in August 2008. Bob Bryce and Henry Hostetler also worked on this project.

Jonathan Meeker's translation of Matthew and John in the Ottawa dialect appeared in 1841-44. P. Jones's Ottawa dialect translation of Genesis was published in 1835 by the Toronto Auxiliary Bible Society.

Mark and John have also been translated into the Ojicree dialect.

Translation	John 3:16
Original text	Fiero Orthography
Jones 1831	Apeech zhahwaindung sah Keshamunedoo ewh ahkeh, ooge-oonje megewanun enewh atah tatabenahwa Kahoogwesejin, wagwain dush katapwayainemahgwain chebahnahdezesig, cheahyong dush goo esh kahkenig pemahtezewin.	Aapij zhawendang sa Gizhe-manidoo iw aki, ogii-onji-miigiwenaan iniw eta dedebinawe Gaa-ogwisijin, wegwen dash ge-debweyenimaagwen ji-banaadizisiig, ji-ayaang dash go ish gaaginig bimaadiziwin.
James 1833	Kitche Manito azhe sȃgitōt áke, me wanje megewat onezheka oguisun, owwagwan ga tabwatumōgwan kȃ tuh wunnisshinze, tuh gȃgegȃ bemátizze.	Gichi-manidoo ezhi-zaagitood aki, mii wenji-miigiwed nizhike-ogwisan, owegwen ge-debwetamoogwen gaa da-wanishinzii, da-gaagige-bimaadizi.
O'Meara 1854	Kahahpeech-shahwandung owh Kesha-Muhnedoo ewh uhkee oogeöonjemegewanun tebenuhwa oogwissun nuhyatahwezenejin, ahwagwan dush duhyabwayanemahgwan chebahnahdezesig, cheähyaung suh dush ewh Kahgega-bemahdezewin.	Gaa-aapij zhawendang ow Gizhe-manidoo iw aki ogii-onji-miigiwenaan dibinawe ogwisan nayetaawizinijin, awegwen dash dayebweyenimaagwen ji-banaadizisiig, ji-ayaang sa dash iw gaagige-bimaadiziwin.
Blatchford 1875	Gaapij shauendU sU Kishemanito iu aki, ogionjimigiuenUn iniu baiezhigonijin OguisUn, aueguen dUsh getebueienimaguen jibUnatizisig, jiaiat dUsh iu kagige bimatiziuin.	Gaa-aapij zhawendang sa Gizhe-manidoo iw aki, ogii-onji-miigiwenaan iniw bayezhigonijin Ogwisan, awegwen dash ge-debweyenimaagwen ji-banaadizisiig, ji-ayaad dash iw gaagige-bimaadiziwin.
Canadian Bible Society 2008	ᐋᓃᔥ ᑭᔐᒪᓂᑑ ᐁᐲᒋᔕᐌᓂᒫᒡ ᐯᒫᑎᓯᓂᒡ ᐊᑮᕽ, ᑮᒦᑭᐌ ᐁᐯᔑᑯᓂᒡ ᐅᑯᓯᓴᓐ, ᐊᐌᓀᓇᓐ ᐃᑕᔥ ᐃᑯ ᑫᑌᐺᔦᓂᒫᒡ, ᐁᑳ ᒋᓂᔑᐗᓈᑎᓯᓯᒃ, ᒋᐊᔮᒡ ᐃᑕᔥ ᐃᐃᐌᓂ ᐱᒫᑎᓯᐎᓐ ᐐᑳ ᑫᐃᔥᒀᓭᓯᓂᓂᒃ᙮	aaniish gizhe-manidoo epiichi-zhawenimaaj bemaadizinij akiing, gii-migiwe e-bezhigonij ogozisan, awenenan idash igo ge-debweyenimaaj, egaa ji-nishiwanaadizisig, ji-ayaaj idash i'iweni bimaadiziwin wiikaa ge-ishkwaasesininig.

• New Testament (O'Meara 1854)
• New Testament (James 1833)
• New Testament (Blatchford 1875)

Potawatomi

Matthew and the Acts were translated by Johnston Lykins and published by the British and Foreign Bible Society in 1844.

Translation	Matthew (Mrto) 6:9-13
Lykins 1844	Otisi ktali matumawa; Nosnan ren lpumuk kelkok, krhnrntaquk ktilnukaswun; Kto kumau'wun kupermkit. Nohma ktrnrntumwun knomkit loti kek, krhwa lpumuk kelkok. Melinak oti nkom rkelkewuk rtso kelkuk, rlwesineak. Epe ponrntumwilnak misnukinanin nenankr rlponrnmukit mrhetotmoeimit, misnumoeumkrleik. Epe krko lonilekak krtli qhiteprnmukoeak, otapinilnak hyrk mranuk; ken ktuprntan okumauwun, epe klkr rwsuwun, epe ew khinrntaqsuwin kakuk. Rmrn.
Lykins 1844 (in quasi-modern spelling) (ă and ĭ today are written as e)	Otĭsĭ ktashĭ matămawa; Nosnan éin shpămăk kishkok, kécnéntakwăk ktĭshnăkaswăn, Kto kămaă’wăn kăpiémkĭt. Nocma kténéntămwăn knomkĭt shotĭ kik, kécwa shpămăk kishkok. Mishĭnak otĭ nkom ékishkiwăk étso kishkăk, éshwisĭniak. ĭpi ponéntămwĭshnak mĭsnăkĭnanĭn ninanké éshponénmăkĭt mécitotmoiĭmĭt, mĭsnămoiămkéshiĭk. ĭpi kéko shonĭshikak kétshĭ kwcĭtipénmăkoiak, otapĭnĭshnak cayék méanăk; kin ktăpéntan okămaăwăn, ipi kshké éwsăwăn, ipi iw kcĭnéntakwsăwĭn kakăk. Émén.

Arapaho

The first Bible portion in Arapaho language (Algonquian family) was translated by John Kliewer, a Mennonite missionary, who translated Matthew 9:1-8. This was published with commentary in a ten page pamphlet by Wm. J. Krehbiel in 1888. The first book was done by John Roberts, an Episcopal missionary, and Michael White Hawk who translated the Gospel of Luke into Arapaho language for the American Bible Society in 1903.

Translation	Lord's Prayer, from Luke 11:2-4
Roberts & White Hawk (1903)	Hāsaunaunene Nananede hanedaude hejavaa, Vadanauha Nananene haneseede. Nananene hanajanede hanājaunauau. Nananene hathanavāane hadnaasedaunee hasauau hejavaa, nau jee nuu vedauauwuu. Hejevenāa hadauchusenee hayauwusenee vethewau. Nau jejaegudanauwunāa hewauchudaudenedaunau hanau nechau nejaegudanauwunade haunauude hanesāde nethāesayānedanauwunuade. Nau jevaechauhāa nedauvasehadee; hau haugaunayauhāa hehethee hadau wausauau.
Roberts & White Hawk (1903) (Modern Orthography)	Heisonoonin neneenit heentoot hihcebe', beteenoohee neneenin heniisih'iit. Neneenin heneeceeniit heneicoonoo'. Neneenin hee3eenebei'een heetnee'eestooni' heesoo' hihcebe', noh ci' nuhu' biito'owuu'. Hiicebenei'ee heetoxuusiini'i heeyowuusiini'i bii3iwo. Noh cihce'ikoutenowuunei'ee howoxutootiiniitono heenoo niixoo nehce'ikoutenowuunoot hono'ut hehniiseihit nii3ei'iseyeinitenowuunei'eet. Noh ciibehyihxohei'ee niitohbeesiheeti'; 'oh hookooneyoohei'ee hihii3iihi' heetohwosoo'.

• In Arapahoe: Matthew 9, 1-8. trans. by John Kliewer at the Gutenberg Project
• Hethadenee waunauyaunee vadan Luke vanenana: the Gospel according to Saint Luke at Gutenberg and at archive.org.
• Hii3etini'i wonooyooni'i beteen Luke beniineino' edition transcribed into modern orthography with various notes and glossaries.

Blackfoot/Siksika

Blackfoot language is part of the Algonquian family. Matthew's gospel was translated by John William Tims and published in 1890 by the British and Foreign Bible Society. He also published "Readings From the Holy Scriptures" containing the first three chapters of Genesis and selections from the gospels. Donald and Patricia Frantz of Wycliffe Bible Translators published their translation of Mark in 1972. The work was taken over by Greg and Angela Thomson, whose gospel of John was published by the Canadian Bible Society in 1979. Shortly afterwards Acts was also released in audio format. Most of Luke has also been translated.^[1]

Cree

Cheyenne

Rodolphe Petter, a Swiss linguist, and Mennonite missionary, translated the New Testament and part of the Old Testament into Cheyenne (Algonquian family). His translation of the New Testament was "from the original Greek, with comparison to the Latin Vulgate and other translations". The first portion of the Bible published were some small translations in the Cheyenne Reading Book, published in 1895. Luke and John were printed together in 1902 and again in 1912. The complete New Testament was first published in 1934.

In 1975 Wayne and Elena Leman, of Wycliffe Bible Translators, started a translation of the Bible from the original languages into colloquial Cheyenne. (Petter's translation is in a more formal, literal style). Their translation has the complete text for Luke, Philippians, 1 Peter, 1 John as well as portions from other books. It was dedicated on 28 January 2007.

Translation	John 3:16
Petter, 1912	Maheo soss zehešemehotoss hestaneo exhessemeanoz henokoenoxzetto, nonoxpa zehetaeonissyomàtōez' emesaaasetoēhe, onitàz emeáena aenevostanehevestoz.
Leman, 2007	Ma'heo'o tséxhoháeméhotaétse hee'haho ného'eanȯemétaenone. Tséne'étamé'tovótsese hee'haho tsea'eneametanéneo'o.

Delaware/Lenape

Abraham Luckenbach Scripture Narratives from the New Testament was published in 1801 followed by his Forty-six selected Scripture Narratives from the Old Testament in 1838. In the in-between time, Dencke's translation of the Epistles of John was printed in 1818 and David Zeisberger's Harmony of the Gospels was published in 1821.

Translation	John (Johannes) 3:16
Zeisberger 1821	Ntitechquo Getanittowit wtelgiqui ahowalap Pemhakamixit, wtelli miltinep nekti mehittachpit Quisall: wentschi wemi wulistawachtit mattatsch tawongellowiwak, schuk nachpauchsichtit hallemiwi Pommauchsowagan.

Malecite-Passamaquoddy

Silas Rand published with selections from scripture (both the Old and New Testaments) in 1863. This was followed by his translation of John which was published in 1870.

Translation	John 3:16
London, 1870	Eebŭchŭl Nŭkskam ĕdooche-moosajĭtpŭn ooskĭtkŭmĭkw wĕjemelooĕtpŭn wĭhwebu Ookwŏŏsŭl, wĕlaman mseu wĕn tan wĕlămsŭtŭk oohŭtĕk, skatŭp ŭksekāhāwe, kānookŭloo ooteĭnp askŭmowsooagŭn.

Meskwaki

Richard and Carla Bartsch of Wycliffe Bible Translators translated Luke's gospel, which was published in 1996 by the International Bible Society. Selections from the Bible were published in 2008 by Wycliffe.

Micmac

Micmac language is part of the Algonquian family. In 1844, the Gospel of Mark was translated into Micmac by Native Evangelist Paul Osunkhirine. St Matthew's Gospel was translated in 1853 by Silas Rand. He then continued to translate the entire New Testament, which was published in 1871 as Pelā Kesagǔnoodǔmǔkawa. He also translated and had published Genesis, Exodus, and the Psalms. Rand translated into Micmac from Hebrew and Greek. A new version of the New Testament was published in Micmac in 1999. The work was coordinated by Wycliffe Bible Translators, Watson and Marilyn Williams, both of whom dedicated nearly 30 years to the completion of the work. The team included three translation assistants, Manny Metallic, Nellie Wysote, and Marion Wilmot, community members, and others. Chiefs Ronald Jacques and the late Alphonse Metallic, and the Canadian Bible Society were also recognized for their work on the Bible.

Translation	John 3:16
Rand 1875	Mǔdǔ Nĭkskam tĕlĭksătkǔp oosĭtkǔmoo' wĕjeĭgǔnǔooĕogǔb'ǔnǔl nāŏŏktoobĭstăjŭl Ookwĭsŭl, koolaman' 'msĭt wĕn tan kĕdlămsŭtkŭl ootenĭnk, moo ŭksŭgawĭs, kadoo ooskos' ăpchememăooŏkŭn.

• Mark's Gospel (Rand 1874, from Internet Archive)

Naskapi

The New Testament was translated by the language and translation department of the Naskapi Development Corporation, Kawawachikamach Quebec, and Wycliffe Bible Translators. Key people involved in the translation were Bill Jancewicz and Silas Nabinicaboo. Genesis was also translated. The New Testament was published in 2007 by the Canadian Bible Society and simultaneously by the Naskapi Development Corporation.

Translation	John (ᒠᓐ) 3:16
Jancewicz 2007	ᐛᔅ ᒋᓴᒪᓂᑐᐤ ᐊᐃᔅᐱᔅ ᒋ ᓴᒋᐊᑦ ᒥᓯᐛ ᐊᐛᔪᐛ ᐅᑕ ᐊᔅᒋᒡ ᒋ ᒥᔨᐛᐤ ᑲ ᐸᐃᑯᓯᔨᒋ ᐅᑯᓴ, ᒥᓯᐛ ᐊᐛᔪᐛ ᑲ ᑕᑈᔭᔨᒪᔨᒋ ᒐᐊᑲᒋ ᓂᓱᐅᓇᑎᓯᔨᒋ ᒪᒃ ᒐᒋ ᐊᔭᔨᒡ ᑲᒋᒡ ᐱᒪᑎᓯᐅᓂᔪᐤ᙮

Shawnee

Matthew, translated by Johnston Lykins, was printed in 1836 and a revision in 1842, and John, translated by Francis Barker was published in 1846. A translation of John was published in 1858, perhaps a revision of Barker's. The four gospels, translated by Thomas W. Alford (Ganwrpiahsikv) was published in 1929.

Translation	John 3:16
Alford 1929 (unverified)	Xvga yone u tasi vhqalatv Mvnatu ini yalakuqvh-kvmigigi, waciganvhi meliwa u nakudo-srkvnvli u Qihfvli, wvhsi goqa-nafvgrci dapwahtv-wrta nili bur iqinaci, wakv bonvgi goqa-lrqvsi lanvwawewa.

Wampanoag

The Wampanoag language or "Massachuset language" (Algonquian family) was the first North American Indian language into which any Bible translation was made; John Eliot began his Natick version in 1653 and finished it in 1661-63, with a revised edition in 1680-85. It was the first Bible to be printed in North America.

In 1709 Experience Mayhew published his translation, in the Martha's Vineyard dialect, of the Psalms and John's Gospel.

Translation	John 3:16
John Eliot (1685)	Newutche GOD wussaúmowomantam muttáok, newaj maguk wunnukquttegheonoh onk howan wunnamptauont matta who awakompanau, qut who ohtau micheme pomantamóonk.
Experience Mayhew (1709)	Newutćhe God wuttunukuhque wômontamunap muttaohk, ummâkunnát wunnukqutekehônoh, onk nishnoh howan wanômuhtauont, who matta auwohkuhpuno∞, qut who ohto mićhemohtae pomontam∞onk.

• Digitalization Project

Caddoan languages

Arikara

Bible translations and hymns in the Ree or Saniś language., Fort Berthold Mission, 1905.

Eskimo-Aleut family

Iroquoian languages

Cherokee

Mohawk

In Mohawk (an Iroquoian language), extracts from the Bible were printed as early as 1715. The Gospel of St Mark, by Joseph Brant, in 1787; and St John, by John Norton, in 1805.^[2] Between 1827 and 1836 the rest of the New Testament (except 2 Corinthians^[3]) was translated by H. A. Hill, W. Hess, and J. A. Wilkes, and the whole was printed in successive parts. The first part of the Old Testament in Mohawk is Isaiah, translated by William Hess, and printed in 1839. A new version of the Gospels, translated by Chief Joseph Onasakenrat, and reviewed by Jean Dion and P. Laforte, was printed in 1880. Onasakenrat was working on completing translating the Bible, but only got till Hebrews, dying before it was completed, his manuscript was never published.^[4][5] Jonah, Daniel, Ruth, Esther, and 2 Corinthians have been recently translated by a team of Mohawk Bible Translators led by Mavis Etienne. They are working on completing the Mohawk Bible translation. Wycliffe Bible Translators is involved.

Translation	John 3:16
Norton (1818)	Iken ne Yehovah egh ne s'hakonoronghkwa n'ongwe, nene rodewendeghton nene raonháon rodewedon rohháwak, nene onghka kiok teyakaweghdaghkon raonhage yaghten a-onghtonde, ok denghnon aontehodiyendane ne eterna adonhéta.
Onasakenrat (1880)	Aseken ne Niio tsini sakohnoronk8ahon nonk8e, iah tatesakohnonhianiheki n'enskat ok ro8iraien, asakaon tosa aiahiheie tsini iakon tiaka8etakon raonhake, ok eken tanon neh aiakoientake ne raonhake aietsenri atsennonniat.

• Mohawk Audio Bible
• Mark (Brant translation—from Google books)
• Luke (Hill translation—from Google books)
• John (Norton translation—from Google books)
• Acts (Hill/Hess translation—from Google books)
• Isaiah (Hess translation—from Google books)
• Gospels (Onasakenrat translation—from Internet Archive)

Oneida

David M. Cory translated Luke, and this was published by the American Bible Society in 1942.

Seneca

Five hundred copies of Luke, translated by Thompson S. Harris, was printed in 1829 by the American Bible Society. The Four Gospels, translated by Asher Wright, were published in 1874.

Translation	John 3:16
American Bible Society (1878)	Neħ să̱ħ'ă̱h ne' sòħjih' hanò'o̱hgwaħ Na'wĕnniyòħ' he'yo̱ă̱njadeħ, Neħ No'awak neħ' sho̱' kuh sgat howi'yă̱yă̱ħ totgaħwa̱h' hao̱gweħdawiih heh yo̱ă̱n'jadeħ'; neħ neh, So̱n'dihgwa'naħot ă̱o̱wa̱i'wagwenniyòs, tă̱ħă̱h' taye'iwahdo̱h', neħgwaa', nă̱yoiwadadyeħ' ă̱ya'goyă̱ndaħt' ne' yo̱hheħ'o̱weh.

• Harris' Luke
• Four Gospels (from Google Books)

Kiowa-Tanoan languages

Tewa (Tanoan family)

Wycliffe Bible Translator's Randall and Anna Spiers translation of Mark in the Santa Clara dialect was published in 1969. Their translation of James into the San Juan dialect was published in 1973.

Mark, Luke, Acts, and 1 Peter in the Santa Clara dialect, and John, Romans, Philippians, 1,2 Thessalonians, 1,2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, James, and 1, 2, 3 John in the San Juan dialect were published together as a volume in 1984 and digitally published in 2012.

Esther Martinez was also involved in this project.

Translation	John 3:16
2012 Wycliffe (San Juan dialect)	Yôesi Táḏáḏí t'ähkí tꞋowa hânho ovâyséegíḏí iví wîˀ ayḏaˀ̖ ûnˀä́ndiˀ imäǵ i, heḏiho toˀwên tꞋä̖hkí iví ayvíˀpiyeˀ dívíwhäy̖ uˀ̖ in háˀto dipeḏée-í hewänbo wówátsi nahándepíˀin dâymáˀve-í.

Southern Tiwa

Wycliffe Bible Translators Barbara J Allen and Donna B Gardiner's translation of Mark was published in 1978 and again in 1980, Acts in 1981, John in 1987, James in 1985,

Northern Tiwa

Mark, translated by David and Alice Hull was published by Wycliffe Bible Translators in 1976. Luke, translated by Corrie Kontak and Janet Kunkel was published in 1992 by Messengers of Christ.

Mayan languages

Mayan languages are subdivided into Huastecan, Yucatecan, Ch'olan, Q'anjobalan, Mamean, and Quichean.

Kaqchikel/Cakchiquel (Mayan)

• William Cameron Townsend - Evangelical, translated into Kaqchikel language, one of the Mayan languages of Guatemala.

Lacandon (Mayan)

Philip and Mary Baer of Wycliffe Bible Translators are working on Lacandon language (Mayan family) Bible translation for the 1,000 speakers of Lacandon in Mexico. The New Testament was complete in 1978 and published by the World Bible League as A QUET U T'ɅNO' A RIC'BENO. There has since been progress on the Old Testament.

Translation	John 3:16
A Quet U T'ʌno' A Ric'beno (1978)	’Mʌ' ja wirej, a C'ujo' jach manan cu yajquintic tu cotor mac ich yoc'ocab. Rajen tu tuchi'taj u parar turiri'. Rajen tu cotor mac a cu yacsic tu yor ti' cu bin tacbir soc mʌ' u bin erar ich c'ac'. Chen cu bin ts'abʌr u cuxtar munt q'uin.

Muskogean family

Choctaw

In Choctaw language (one of the Muskogean languages), three of the Gospels, translated by Alfred Wright, were printed as early as 1831, and the complete New Testament, by Wright and Cyrus Byington, in 1848. There translation of Joshua, Judges and Ruth were published as one volume in 1852. Psalms in 1886 (translated C. Byington and J. Edwards.) and the Pentateuch in 1867. The first and second book of Samuel and the first book of Kings followed in 1913, as did John Edwards translation of 2 Kings. First and Second Samuel and the first book of Kings was drafted by Joseph Dukes and then finalized by Alfred Wright.

Wycliffe Bible Translators working on a translation into modern Choctaw. Jonah and Amos were published separately 1996.

Translation	John (Chan) 3:16
American Bible Society 1854	Chihowa yʋt yakni a̱ i̱ hullo fehna kʋt, kʋna hosh yʋmma i̱ ymmikmʋtik illo hosh, amba ai ikcha̱yʋt bilia yo̱ pisa hi o̱. Ushi achʋfa illa holitopa ya̱ auet ima tok.

Koasati (Coushatta)

Luke 2:1-20 was published by SIL in 1981. Gene Burnham and David Rising of Wycliffe Bible Translators were working on translation. Bel Abbey was also involved on this project.

Mikasukee

Mark was translated into Mikasukee by Wycliffe Bible Translators David and Virginia West and was published in 1980. They also published "Stories from Genesis" in 1985.

Muskogee/Creek

John, translated by Davis and Lykins, was published in 1835. Another version translated by Buckner was published in 1860. The New Testament (first published in 1887 and again in 1906), Psalms (published 1908) and Genesis (published 1893) were translated by Anna Eliza Robertson with the help of many Muskogee Christians. They were translated from the original Greek and Hebrew, Robertson knew Greek and other missionaries helped her with the Hebrew. James Ramsey and John Edwards helped with the old testament translations. The New Testament went through five revisions during Robertson's life. The New Testament was reprinted by Wiyo Publishing Company in 2011.

Translation	John (Cane) 3:16
American Bible Society 1906	Hesaketvmese ekvnv vnokece mahat hiyomen orvtet omekv: E'ppuce hvmkuse hecknecvte emvtes, mvn estimvt o estomet oh vkvsamat estemerkekot, hesaketv yuksvsekon ocvren.

• Mvskoke Bible

Na-Dené languages

Tlingit

Athabaskan languages

Oto-Manguean languages

The Oto-Manguean languages consist of several families:

• Oto-Pamean
• Chinantecan
• Tlapanecan
• Manguean
• Popolocan
• Zapotecan
• Amuzgoan
• Mixtecan

Mixtecan

Kenneth L. Pike - Evangelical, translated into Mixtec language (Oto-Manguean family)

Penutian languages

Gitxsan

Alfred E. Price's translation of Luke was published in 1899.

Nez Perce

Matthew, translated by Spalding, was twice printed (in 1845 and 1871). Both John and the first epistle of John, translated by George Ainslie, appeared in 1876. A harmony of the four gospels, translated by Joseph M. Cataldo, was published in 1914

Translation	John 3:16
Ainslie, 1876 (unverified)	Atka Godnim ikuiku hatauitki watashph, kunki init awaka lumtai Miats, ka ishinm ipna himtsukuinaku, ipi watu tinulrnú, matu kunkusin wakeswit autsaya.
Cataldo, 1914	Etké Akamkíniku-m kúus imékas-nig úikala-na tilókan-a inés-etéui-yá, ka-kúus-kí éteuit-kí inéz-ini-a Ipním-níg naksiníg Míaz: kauá kunú-azánu ka-kuním Ipné pe-mizkúinek-u, yug-pí uétu i-paléi-nu, métu uákas i-uzé-yu kunku yáin.

Nisga'a

James McCullagh's translation of Matthew was published by the Aiyansh Mission in 1895. He later translated the whole New Testament.^[6] James was published in 1918

Tsimshian/Sm'algyax

William Ridley's translation of Matthew was published in 1885, Mark in 1887, Luke in 1887, John in 1889, The letters of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus and Philemon, James, 1, 2 Peter, 1, 2 John and Jude were published in 1898.

Translation	John 3:16
William Ridley (1889)	Awil ǥushǥout sheībunt ga Shimoigiat ga Laḵāga halizogut, gunt ginamsh ga gaulū lip da Lthgōlthk gut ga, gunt ligit lip nā ga shimhoudikshit gish nīat althga dum gwātik gut, dum yaǥai gāda da whati shābām gundidōlshit.

Salishan languages

Montana Salish/Kalispel–Pend d'oreille

Joseph Giordia's "Lu tel kaimintis kolinzuten kuitlt smiimii" (Some narratives from the Holy Bible") was published by the St. Ignatius Print in 1879.

Translation	John 3:16
Giordia 1879	Néłi łu t-Kolinzúten łu gaménchis łu kéligu, u guizełts łu is'chináksi łu skusées. Tas zkúlsts łu skusées ks'chzoguépilems łu skeligu, u pen ksguilguiltems.
Giordia 1879 Modern orthography	Nełi łu t K̓ʷlncutn łu x̣menčis łu sqelixʷ u xʷic̓łtc łu i sčnaqsi łu sqʷseʔs. tas skʷuĺsts łu sqʷseʔs qs čc̓xʷeplʔems łu sqelixʷ u pn qs xʷlxiltms.
Other translation (As remembered by Salish elder, Pat Pierre)	Nełi łu t k̓ʷlncutn x̣menčis łu sqlqelixʷ u xʷic̓łc łu čnaqs skʷses. tam qs čc̓xʷeplʔems łu sqlqelixʷ u łu tcniłc nem epł nxʷlxiltn ta qe ps hoy.

Siouan languages

Crow/Absaalookah

Mark was published in 1979. Acts 1-15 in 1981. 1 Timothy was printed in 1984. 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon were published as one volume in 1991. James, Colossians and Galatians were published in 2005. It is hoped that the New Testament can be dedicated in 2012.

Dakota/Lakota

The Dakota language Bible translation was started with Thomas Williamson and Joseph Renville, a fur trader of French and Dakotan descent. Williamson first modified the Latin alphabet to "work" for Dakota, he then spent day after day for two or three winters in Renville's warehouse, reading verse by verse from his French Bible. Renville would then give the Dakota, and Williamson would write it down. They finished Mark and John this way. In 1837 Williamson was joined by Stephen Riggs. Both of them learned Dakota, and then compared the tentative translation with the original Greek.

In 1843 they offered a corrected version of Luke and John to the American Bible Society to be printed. It took nearly 40 years before the full Bible was translated. Williamson never lived to see it finished, as he died in 1879. Their work was revised by Williamson's son, the Rev. John Williamson.^[7]

Genesis 1842; Luke and John 1843; New Testament 1865; Holy Bible 1879;

Eugene Buechel published "Wowapi Wakan Wicowoyake Yuptecelapi Kin" (The Abridged Bible Stories) in the Lakhota dialect in 1924. It included a selection of texts modeled after the German Biblische Geschichte.

Mercy Poorman, Velma Young, and Ed L. Bausell translated Riggs and Williamson's 1887 John from the Dakota dialect into the Lakota dialect. This was published in 1997 by Tiospaye Bible Baptist. The Lakota Bible Translation Project has translated various small booklets with selections from scripture, and in 2006 published Luke's gospel. The Lakota Bible Translation Project's translators include Jerry Yellowhawk, Rosalie Little Thunder, and Ben Black Bear.

Translation	John 3:16
Riggs, 1866, 1874	Wakantanka oyate kin cantewicakiya, heon Cinhintku iśana icage cin wicaqu, qa tuwe awacin kinhan owihanke kte śni, tuka owihanke wanin wiconi yuhe kta.
Riggs, 1866, 1874 - Modern Orthography	Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka oyáte kiŋ čhaŋtewičhakhiye, heúŋ Čhiŋčatku išná ičhaǧe čiŋ wičhaku, k'a tuwé waŋží kiŋhán owíhaŋke kte šni, tukhá owíhaŋke wanín wičhóni yukhé kta.
Buechel, 1924	Icin Wakantanka wicasa kin lila tewicahila ca cinca wanjilahci wicak'u na tona wicalapi kin hena nunipi kte sni, tka wiconi oihanke wanice kin yuhapi kte.

• Dakota Bible Digitization
• Dakota Wowapi Wakan
• Dakota Wowapi Wakan Kin (Scan of the New Testament in Dakota on Google Books)

Ho-chunk/Winnebago

The four Gospels, Acts, Genesis and chapters 19 and 20 of Exodus were translated by John Stacy and Jacob Stucki and published by the American Bible Society in 1907. Helen Miller published a revised version of these texts in 2009.

Translation	John (Johngha) 3:16
American Bible Society, 1907	Hisgexji Maura managre wogixetera deshesgena, Eshana Hinigra herera wogarna, higu peshe harnaxgungi inke d'arnikjanena, eshi wankshighoi hisgeja unkjanena.

Iowa

Matthew was translated by Samuel Irvin and William Hamilton. It was published in 1843 by the Ioway and Sac mission press. Exodus 20, Psalm 11 and 15 were also translated and included in a literacy book printed the same year.

Osage

"Washashe wageress pahvgreh tse", a book with passages from scripture translated by William Regus and William Montgomery was published in 1834. This book includes selections from Proverbs, Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah and the four gospels.

Translation	John 3:16
Washashe wageress pahvgreh tse, 1834	Chihova ʌkha mɔshɔ lakewɔlapɔ, Shĩga okhʌnche wɔkiu-hiulapio, eh howɔle ekho-ashĩhle tsashe, ɔhshi ni-shõhshõheh tatshio.
Washashe wageress pahvgreh tse, 1834 Modern Orthography

Note: Some vowels in Washashe wageress pahvgreh tse were not standard and thus rather hard to find in unicode. The above sample has those letters changed to their IPA equivalents: (ɔ, ʌ, ĩ, õ)

Mandan

"Hymns and scripture selections in the Mandan language" was published in 1905 by Berthold Mission.

Stoney Nakoda

Lazarus Wesley translated Mark into Stoney Nakoda in the 1970s. Rob and Karen Taylor, with the help of Quentin Lefthand, translated Luke into Stoney in 2009, Acts followed in 2010. They are currently working on a translation of Genesis.

Uto-Aztecan languages

Yuman family

Havasupai-Walapai-Yavapai

Scott and Lynanne Palmer, of Wycliffe Bible Translators, are working on translating the Bible into the Havasupai language. Luke was published in the 1980s, and at least 86% of the rest of the New Testament and Genesis has been drafted.

Wakashan family

Nuu-chah-nulth/Nootka

Melvin Swartout's 1899 "Shorter catechism and hymnal" included a few selections from the Bible, specifically the ten commandments, the Lord's prayer, Matt 5:3-10 (the Beatitudes), John 14, 1 Timothy 1:16, John 3:16, and John 11:25, 26.^[8]

Translation	John 3:16
Swartout 1899	O-nutl-û-nĭtc H. H. ĭh ya-ûk-ûp-ûtl o-kwĭlh hĭs-tcûk’-mĭlh-kŭn‘, hĭn-i-ûtl a něs-ûk dat-na, ûh-a-ûtl yûk‘-yûk-tsĭnı-wu-si ya-ût-ĭtk ta-kak-ût wĭkaktl kah-cĭtl, tĭtc-aktl-ka sa-tcĭn-ĭk.

Kwak'wala/Kwakiutl

Alfred James Hall, working together with William Brotchie translated portions of the Bible into the Kwak'wala language. Matthew was published in 1882 by the British and Foreign Bible Society. John was published in 1884, Luke in 1894, Acts in 1897 and Mark in 1900.^[9] All were published by the British and Foreign Bible Society.

Translation	John 3:16
BFBS 1884	Kā God tāḵs aula ā tlāhwila nūq sa awīnāgwīsīḵ, lā gītl tsī zaw sīs hīgāmā Kwanūq, kā kīsīkl tsī tlil klī da ūqis klā kī, lā glākl hīmunīs qīlākl.

Language Isolates

Haida (language isolate)

The first portion of the Bible in Haida language (Language isolate) of Alaska, 500 copies of Matthew, became available in 1891. It was translated by Charles Harrison (missionary), a Church Missionary Society missionary at Masset. Harrison was sent out in 1882, and returned to England in 1891, being succeeded by the Rev. John Henry Keen. Harrison also published a book entitled "Old Testament Stories in the Haida language", this was published after he had already returned to England, in 1893. In 1897 Keen's version of the Acts was published: till then Matthew was the only printed book in the language. Keen also prepared Luke, John, 1 Corinthians, Psalms, and parts of Genesis.^[10] (see account of his method of translation, Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society, 1898, p. 317); Luke and John were published in 1899.^[11] It is unclear what happened to Keen's manuscripts for Genesis, Psalms, and 1 Corinthians, as they were never published.

Translation	John 3:16
Keen (BFBS 1899)	Shanung-itlagadas hēt-tligai kwoyādagun alth, Gitang swonshuns tla ga il isdagun, la nung yetdasdlu gum il gū-uns gien, il hēnung-a-swonung-ai una.

Keres (language isolate)

John Menaul translated Exodus 20 (the ten commandments) and Matthew 5 (The sermon on the mount) into Keres. It was published in 1883 at the Laguna Mission Press.

Portions of the Bible were translated into Eastern Keres in the 1930s by H. Carroll Whitener. Matthew was published in 1933 and John was published in 1935 and Acts in 1936. Portions into Western Keres were translated from the 1960s with the first full book being completed in 1997.

Translation	John 3:16
Whitener 1935 (unverified)	She emi taa Iusi gaishibishra tinye-tyu, hemaku nowe ishike iatrakunishi ga-mutyi hau tyikuya, emi heya sai heme gaapishra tsiuhimatyishi tsatsi tu naaftrakunu, etyu tsiyakamitsi iani naaku.

Seri (language isolate)

Edward W. Moser - American Evangelical, into the Seri language of Mexico.

Translation	John 3:16
	Tiix ihiisax com cöcacaaatj zo haquix piihx ihiisax com hant quih quicoopol com contsamaha. Iquiisax quih cmaa quiih quih hacx immiih taax cösiisaxaha Yooz quij cöpoofpx.

Zuñi (language isolate)

In 1906, Andrew VanderWagen, with the help of Nich Tumaka, translated Mark and perhaps other portions into the Zuñi language (a language isolate) of western New Mexico and eastern Arizona. In the 1930s and 1940s, George Yff and Rex Natewa, with the help of Wycliffe Bible Translator Carroll Whitener translated Matthew and John. These translations had many problems, including the fact that they used grammatical sentence structure based on English instead of on Zuñi.^[12]

After extensive study of the Zuñi language, and massive recordings of their folklore, and after creating a writing system that worked for their language, Curtis Cook translated the gospel of Mark (published in 1970), John (published 2011) and Acts (in 1978) into the Zuñi language.^[13] Cook's chief language helper was Lorenzo Chavez^[14]

Luke and Genesis have been translated by Wycliffe translators Bill and Carolyn Murray. They have been released on a media DVD. The Murray's, together with Rose Chapman, Sherry Siutza and Delbert Haloo are currently working on a translation of Galatians.

Translation	John 3:16
Cook 2011	Ho’n a:wan Datchu God le:wi’ demł a:ho’i lił ulohnannan a:de’on a:wichem’anan akkya yam dobinde Tsawak illona lukno dinakwin iyk’yanan, ya’kya. Akkya dens chuwan hoł aniłdemana:wona kwa’ a:wan binna: a:wotdishukwa. Isha’małde dek’ohannan chimon illa:wa.

External links

• Zuni Bible Online

Pidgins/Creoles

Chinook Jargon

The gospel of Mark was translated into Chinook Jargon and published in 1912.

Indigenous languages of South America

References