translation philosophy and sample passages · the work of translating the bible is never finished....
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Translation philosophy and sample passages
A Collaboration
Translating God’s Story for the First Nations of North America in English
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Translation Philosophy May 2015
The First Nations Version Translating God’s Story for the First Nations of North America in English.
The goal of the First Nations Version (FNV) is to enable over six million English-speaking First Nations people on Turtle Island (North America) to read and hear Creator’s eternal Word in an English version that reflects their heart languages. Our work as translators is motivated by the conviction that the Bible is the Creator’s Word in written form. We share a common and heartfelt conviction that the Bible contains the Creator’s answer to the deepest needs of humanity, and sheds a unique shining light on our path in a dark world. It provides hope for the future and sets forth the way to our eternal well-being. By tradition, First Nations people are oral storytellers Filled with illustration, stories and legends, our ancestors taught their children about Creator and creation. The First Nations Version is a retelling of the Scriptures in the tradition of the storytellers of these oral cultures. The work of translating the Bible is never finished. As good as they are, English translations have not communicated the Jesus Way - God’s Story in a form that clearly reflects the hearts of the our First Nations people. This is a translation in English. Through the forces of assimilation the great majority of our people lost the use of their mother-tongues. It is only in the past 100 years that our people have learned to read and write - and this was primarily in English. Even though English has become our common language, most of our tribes across Turtle Island still resonate with the cultural and linguistic thought patterns found in our original tongues. This way of speaking, with its simple yet profound beauty and rich cultural idioms, still resonates in the hearts of our First Nations people. Today there is no English translation that reflects the traditional language forms and cultural thought patterns shared by this very large people group of several hundred unique tribes of Turtle Island that now speak a common language - English. The First Nations Version of the Creators Story is our humble attempt. Priorities Out of these deep convictions, we have sought to recreate as far as possible the experience of the original audience - blending transparency to the original text with accessibility for the six to eight million First Nations people who call Turtle Island home. We have made simplicity of speech, a natural way of speaking, and clarity and cultural relevance our priority, while maintaining accuracy to the original Biblical languages. The First Nations Version is intended to present the scriptures with phrases and word choices that relate in a general way to Native Americans and other First Nations English speaking people. Because of the great diversity of our people, it is not intended to be tribally specific. Diverse team of translators Drafting of the First Nations Version of the New Testament has already started. To complete it though, we need to follow the Native way of having the whole tribe involved. This will be a new translation made by a cross-section of the people of Turtle Island - Elders, Pastors, teachers, academics, scholars, youth, men and women, and next generation leaders. All will contribute to this translation. This group consists of members of a cross-section of tribes from the Southern woods, to the buttes and mesas of the Southwest, across the plains once teeming with buffalo, mountain ridges and ocean shores covered with tall trees. Tribes from northern lakes and forests, and across the muskeg and icy lands of the far north will be contributors. This diverse team of First Nations people will be working from many English source texts and Greek texts following the models of Luther, Wycliffe and Tyndale.
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We want the translators to represent many denominations and churches — including Anglican, Assemblies of God, Baptist, Brethren, Catholic, Christian Reformed, Church of Christ, Evangelical Covenant, Evangelical Free, Lutheran, Mennonite, Methodist, Nazarene, non-denominational, Presbyterian, Wesleyan and others. This breadth of denominational and First Nations perspective will help us to safeguard the translation from bias. This translation will takes into consideration contextual word choices, idiomatic expressions, and modifications in paragraph and sentence structure, that clarify and facilitate understanding of the text. Our aim is to keep thought patterns and illustrations that Jesus would have used, had he been on Turtle Island two millennium ago. The translators will be continually concerned about maintaining the accuracy of the translation and its faithfulness to the intended meaning of the biblical writers as understood by First Nations people in their context. Reader aids As an aid to the reader, sectional headings have been inserted. They are not to be regarded as part of the biblical text and are not intended for oral reading. It is the committee’s hope that these headings may prove more helpful to the reader than the traditional chapter divisions, which were introduced long after the Bible was written. The First Nations Version is being developed for the millions who have still not clearly heard God’s Word touching their heart. It keeps in mind reading levels typically found on reserves and among the First Nations communities. Artistic, Poetic and Dramatic License Throughout the body of scripture there are comments in italics. In an attempt to present the scriptures as a living and moving narrative we are adding reasonably implied statements. For this we used our imagination as we tried to picture what may have been the reaction in the voices and faces of the participants. At times we also inserted comments on the history, culture and geography to add depth and understanding to the story for those without a historical understanding of Hebrew culture, New Testament times or the Old Testament. None of the additions are intended to add or take away from the meaning of the text of Scripture. Checking and double-checking To ensure faithfulness to the original, while providing clarity and naturalness in the story-telling nature of First Nations people, this translation will be checked by small groups, in families, by individuals, by Pastors, in Churches, in seminaries, in printed and audio versions. We will seek out feedback from across the Tribes of Turtle Island from all denominational traditions as well as Bible translation experts from the indigenous Bible translation movement. Leadership To provide leadership of the First Nations Version, the original translators established their own indigenous Council on Bible Translation (CBT). The council will grow to consist of a group of biblical scholars, Pastors and normal everyday followers of the Jesus Way. They will be charged with providing leadership to the translation process in a contextual manner within the framework of Biblical excellence. We have taken great care to convey the original meaning of the text, to the best of our ability, by using the most current scholarship and translation tools available. We sought out advice and consultant support from world leaders and experts in the Indigenous Bible translation movement. Our desire is that the First Nations Version touches the heart of the First Nations people of Turtle Island. We know that every human effort is flawed - including this First Nations Version of the Creators’ Story - the Jesus Way. We trust, however, that many will find in it our Creators call to us to follow the Jesus Way, and through it may find a deep to faith in our Wisdom Keeper and his Path. Our hope and desire – the complete First Nations Version New Testament will be first published in 2016.
The First Nations Version Council on Bible Translation
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May 2015
The following are a series of “draft” passages of scripture from the New Testament. They are examples of the style of the First Nations Version. We have made simplicity of speech, a natural way of speaking, clarity and cultural relevance our priority, while maintaining accuracy to the original Biblical languages. Our desire is to have readers hear and understand Creator’s eternal Word in an English version that reflects their heart languages.
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Introductions
The Great Storyteller -‐ John 1:1-‐16
Long ago, in the time before all days, before the creation of all things…
There was the Story.1 The Story was face to face with Creator and was the same as Creator. He was with Creator in the beginning. The Story made everything there is. Nothing was made except by him.
Life was in him and shined its light on all human beings. This is the true light that comes to all the peoples of the world, and shines on everyone. His light shines into the darkness of this world, and the darkness cannot put it out.
A man named He Shows Goodwill2 was sent by the Great Spirit to tell what he knew about the light, so everyone could believe. He was not the light, but came to tell what he saw with his own eyes about the light.
Even though the Story made all people, not everyone recognized him. Even his own tribe did not welcome or honor him. But all who welcome and trust him receive their birthright as children of the Great Spirit. They are born in a new way, not from a human father’s plans, but born from above. The Story became a human being and lived as one of us—the Great Storyteller. We saw how honorable he was. The kind of honor that comes from being an only son to a father, one who is fully trusted and favored.
From his goodness we have all had goodwill poured out on us. Drawn From The Water3 gave us the great law, but the blessing way and truth came from Creator Sets Free4—the Chosen One.5
No one has ever seen the Great Spirit, but his only born Son. He is the one who is closest to Grandfather’s heart, and has shown us what he is like. Eyewitnesses -‐ Luke 1:1-‐4
O most honored Friend Of Creator,6 many have told this story, given to them from those who saw these things with their own eyes; the ones who laid down their lives to pass it on to others.
Since I have heard this story from the beginning, it seemed like a good thing for me to retell it from first to last. In this way you will know for yourself the truth about the things you were taught.
1 Greek: Logos, meaning word, message, or reason. 2 John. 3 Moses. 4 Jesus means God saves, delivers, or sets free. 5 The Christ or Messiah. 6 Theophilus.
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Matthew 5:1-‐11 (The Beatitudes)
Eight Blessing Ways (Vs 1-‐11)
When he saw their great numbers, Creator Sets Free went up onto a mountainside. He gathered his followers around him, took a deep breath and began to teach them about the Land of Grandfather’s Good Road.1
“The blessing way rests on the ones with broken spirits; the Good Road belongs to them. “The blessing way rests on the ones whose hearts have fallen to the ground; he will lift them up and give them comfort.
“The blessing way rests on the ones who walk softly and in a humble manner; the earth, land and sky will welcome them and always be their home.
“The blessing way rests on the ones who hunger and thirst for wrongs to be made right; they will eat and drink until they are full.
“The blessing way rests on the ones who are kind to others; their kindness will find its way back to them—full circle. “The blessing way rests on the ones with clean and pure hearts; they will see the Great Spirit. “The blessing way rests on the ones who make peace by living in the way of harmony; it will be said of them, ‘They are the children of the Great Spirit!’
“The blessing way also rests upon the ones who are hunted down and mistreated, lied about and spoken against, looked down on with scorn and contempt; all because they have chosen to walk the good road with the True Human Being.2 “When this happens let your hearts be glad and jump for joy; this is the same way they treated the prophets and holy people of long ago. You are walking in their moccasins now! There is great honor waiting for you in the Land of Creator’s Good Road.”
1 Lit. the Kingdom of Heaven. 2 Son of Man.
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John Chapter 3:1-‐21 Seeing the Good Road (Vs 1-‐4) A man named Conquers The People1 came to Creator Sets Free in secret at night. He was one of the Separated Ones2 and a head man of the tribes of Wrestles With Creator who sat in the Great Council.3 Out of the shadows he whispered, “Wisdomkeeper4, we know the Great Spirit sent you to teach us. No one can perform powerful signs like these unless the Maker of Life5 walks with him.”
“Listen closely then, and I will teach you,” Creator Sets Free answered, “for no one can see Grandfather’s Good Road6 unless they are born from above. Conquers The People was surprised by this strange answer. He didn’t know what to say, so he asked, “Can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother’s womb to be born a second time?” Born of Water and Spirit (Vs 5-‐13)
“I tell you the truth from my heart,” Creator Sets Free answered. “One must be born of both water and spirit to find Creator’s Good Road. There is a natural birth and a spiritual birth. Are you surprised that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above?’ Everyone born in this way is like a breath of wind that blows wherever it will. You can hear its sound, but no one knows where it comes from or where it goes.” “How can these things be?” Conquers The People asked.
The light from a nearby fire made the shadows dance about. Creator Sets Free looked gently but firmly into his eyes and continued. “How can it be that a wisdomkeeper and spiritual leader of the tribes of Wrestles With Creator does not understand these things? Listen closely, I am speaking about things I know to be true, for there is only one who is from the world above—the True Human Being. If you do not believe me when I talk about things on earth, how will you believe me when I talk about the things from the world above?
A Serpent on a Pole (Vs 14-‐18)
“Do you not remember when in the desert wilderness, Drawn From The Water lifted up a pole with a serpent on it? This is what will happen to the True Human Being, so people will put their trust in him and have the life of beauty and harmony that does not fade away.”
1 Nicodemus. 2 Pharisee. 3 Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. 4 Lit. Rabbi, teacher. 5 God. 6 Kingdom of God.
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Long ago, when the tribes of Wrestles With Creator were wandering in the desert, they did not listen to the Great Spirit. Poisonous snakes came and bit them and many were dying. Drawn From The Water prayed for them, so Creator told him to put a snake on a pole and lift it up so the people could see it. When they looked at it they were healed and did not die.
Conquers The People remained silent listening to the words of Creator Sets Free.
The Love of the Great Spirit
“The Great Spirit loves this world of human beings so deeply he gave us his only born Son. All who trust in him, and his way, will not come to a bad end, but will find the life of beauty and harmony that does not fade away. Grandfather did not send his Son to decide against the people of this world, but to set them free from the worthless ways of the world.
“The ones who trust in him are released from their guilt, but the ones who turn away from him to follow the ways of this world, their guilt remains. For they are turning away from the life of beauty and harmony the Great Spirit offers through his Son.
A Light Shining in the Darkness (Vs 19-‐21) “My light has shined into this dark world, but because of their worthless ways people loved the dark path more than the light. When they choose the dark path, they don’t want others to see, so they hide in the darkness and hate the light. But the ones who are true and do what is right are walking in the daylight so others can clearly see they are on Creator’s Good Road.”
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Acts 1:1-‐11 Forty Days of Instruction (Vs 1:11) O most honored Friend Of Creator.1 I have already told you the story of Creator Sets Free, about his words of wisdom, and all the things he did among the people, from his birth until the day he returned to the world above. After he had suffered by being put to death on the tree pole, he returned to life, and then appeared to his message bearers, giving them many proofs that he was truly alive again.
For forty days he continued to appear to them, and instruct them further about Creator’s Good Road. Once, during a meal with his followers, he said to them, “Wait here in Jerusalem, the Sacred Village of Peace, for the gift from my Father that I already told you about—the Holy Spirit. He Shows Goodwill2 performed the purification ceremony with water, but not many days from now, you will participate in the purification ceremony with the Spirit.
They were all full of wonder about what was taking place. Was this the beginning of the new world the prophets of old had promised to the Tribes of Wrestles With Creator?
They crowded around Creator Sets Free. “Wisdomkeeper, they asked him, “will you now give the Good Road Back to the tribes of Wrestles With Creator?” “Times and seasons are in the Father’s hands,” he answered, “don’t trouble your minds with things you don’t understand. Set your hearts and minds on the Holy Spirit, who will give you strong medicine when he comes. You will then tell my story in all Judea, then Samaria, and on to the furthest parts of the earth. You are now to be concerned with all nations.”
As he spoke these words, he was taken up, and went into a cloud where they could no longer see him.
His followers bowed down low to honor him and then, full of wonder and awe, they stood there looking up into the sky.
As they were looking up, two men appeared before them in pure white garments. “Men of Galilee!” they said. “Why are you looking up into the sky? This same Creator Sets Free, who you saw going up into the world above, will return one day, in the same manner you have seen him go.”
1 Theophilus. 2 John.
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Ephesians Chapter 1
Greetings (Vs 1-‐2)
From One Who Is Small1, a message bearer2 for Creator Sets Free. To the Great Spirit’s holy people3 who live in the village of Ephesus. The ones who walk the good path following the Chosen One.
Blessing ways4 and peace to you from the Father above and from our Grand Chief5 Creator Sets Free who is the Chosen One.
All blessings to the Great Spirit, who is the Father of Creator Sets Free. From the world above, he has gifted us with all spiritual blessing ways found in the Chosen One.
Chosen for Blessing Ways (Vs 3-‐7)
Before he made all things, because of his great love, the Maker Of Life6 chose us to be his children. In his great wisdom he decided long ago to make us pure and holy in his sight. He freely poured out all these blessing ways on us through the one he loves.
By paying the highest price, offering his own life-‐blood, the Chosen One set us free from a great captivity, caused by our bad hearts and broken ways. Hidden Wisdom (Vs 7-‐10)
It makes Creator’s heart glad to show us the hidden wisdom of his plan. When the time has come to complete the last circle, he will make all things in the world above and in the earth below come together and find their full meaning and purpose7 in the Chosen One. The Great Spirit decided long ago to include all who follow the Chosen One in this plan. Creator is working out all the details, fitting everything into his purpose, and showing all his followers, from first to last, how to bring honor to him by putting their hope in the Chosen One.
Seal-‐of-‐Approval (Vs 11-‐14) All who hear and follow his message of truth have been initiated into his plan; this is the good news that makes us free. When we trust in the Chosen One he gives us the Holy Spirit as his seal-‐of-‐approval, to assure us of all he
1 Paul, who’s name means little or least. 2 Apostle. 3 Saints. 4 Grace. 5 Lord. 6 God. 7 Or, come under one headship.
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has promised; until the time comes when our Maker will complete the circle for everyone who belongs to him. All this brings him great praise and honor. Sending Up Prayers (Vs 15-‐23)
When I heard of the trust you have in Creator Sets Free, and your deep love for all of his holy people, I never stop giving thanks for you and remember you when I send up my prayers.
I pray that the Father of glory, the Great Spirit of our Grand chief Creator Sets Free, will gift you with the spirit of wisdom and understanding in his mysterious ways.
I am asking him to open your spiritual eyes to see the hope of his calling and the beautiful treasure he has in us—his holy people.
I pray he will show how much greater his power is for all who put their trust in him. The same power he used when he brought the Chosen One back to life from the dead and gave him the place of honor at his right hand; a high spiritual place far above all rulers, authorities, and powers. A place higher and stronger than all names that can be named, not only in this world but also in the one that is coming.
This is how he put all things, seen and unseen, under his feet and made him Chief of his Council Of Wisdom Keepers1, which is his body, made whole by the one who fills everything.
1 Church.
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Reconciliation Scriptures
1 Corinthians 5:17-‐21
All who are joined together with the Chosen One are now part of a new creation—for in him the old creation has faded away, and a new creation has been birthed. It is the Great Spirit himself who has done this! Through the Chosen One, Creator has removed the hostility between human beings and himself, bringing all creation into harmony once again. Creator has chosen us to represent him in this great task of helping others find this path. Here is another way to see it. The Great Spirit was not holding our broken ways against us, instead, he was working in the Chosen One to bring us back into harmony with himself. This is the message he wants us to bring to others. As we now represent the Chosen One, it is like the Creator is speaking through us, begging all people to walk the path of being restored back to the Great Spirit. The one who knew no broken ways, was chosen by the Great Spirit to be broken for us, so that we could become the ones who represent his right ways. Romans 5:8-‐11
This is the way the Maker Of Life shows his great love for us. Even when we were still walking in our broken ways the Chosen One gave his life for us. His life-‐blood, that was poured out for us, has brought our lives back into balance with the Great Spirit. What he has done will set us free from Creator's great anger against our bad hearts and broken ways.
If the ultimate sacrifice of Creator's Son brings our lives back into harmony with him, how much more will his life of beauty and harmony, that has defeated death, now set us free to walk in his ways?
This is what makes our hearts glad, and why we shout for joy, as we celebrate what the Giver Of Life has done through our Grand Chief, Creator Sets Free, the Chosen One! By accepting him, we now stand before Creator, with lives that have been brought back into balance and harmony with the Great Spirit.
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From the Director of the First Nations Version Council on Bible Translation
An Unexpected Journey
Over twenty years ago, God, whom I have learned to call Creator, Great Spirit and Grandfather, changed the course of my life when he made it clear to me that I was to become involved in the lives of the First Nations People of North America, often called American Indians or Native Americans. This journey eventually led my wife and I to live among the Hopi Indians in the high desert of northern Arizona. Since I had Native American heritage from both the Ojibwe and Yaqui Indians I had hoped that I would fit right in, but I had much to learn then, and my learning continues to this day.
As we began to share the Gospel with the Hopi, I soon learned that a doctrinal based study of Scripture, often taken out of the context of the narrative of the Bible, was not a clear message. A New Testament had been translated into their language, but because the Hopi traditionally had no written language, most could not read it. Later we found this to be true for a majority of the American tribes.
As we lived in a Native setting we began to learn from them the beauty and value of traditional storytelling. Over the years I began to present the Bible in the form of storytelling. This led to the release of our RainSong CD called The Great Story From the Sacred Book, a condensed narrative of the Bible story from Creation to Christ, retold for Native Americans. This CD has been well received by many traditional and non-‐traditional Natives. It also won the 2009 Native American Music Award for Best Spoken Word.
From that time forward I began to reword many of my favorite Scripture passages and share them at our live RainSong concerts. Many people began to ask if I would be doing an entire New Testament or even the whole Bible in this manner. Even though that sounded like a good thing, I couldn’t imagine myself taking on such an overwhelming task. A great big dream
After much research I could not find any English translations that had been completed specifically with Native Americans in mind. A still, small voice keep gently nudging me, in the back of my mind, that I should attempt a paraphrase of the New Testament for Native Americans and English speaking First Nations People. Finally in the fall of 2012, with what I felt was clear confirmation from Creator, I committed myself to this task. Even though this journey was one I never expected to embark on, it has been a captivating and eye opening adventure. As a starting point I drafted a harmonized story of the Gospels -‐ When the Great Spirit Walked Among Us. Even though this has been well received by many, I realized that if this was to be accepted by First Nations people across Turtle Island, the task of translating God’s Word for them had to be done by the whole Tribe, not just one person. But I needed a partner. In the spring of 2015 we partnered with OneBook, a Canadian Bible translation that is part of the Wycliffe Global Alliance. This organization was set up with the sole goal of facilitating indigenous people groups around the world to translate God’s Word for
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themselves. Together we are seeking to engage the First Nations Church across Turtle Island in fulfilling a much bigger dream than I ever imagined. Now, what started as a one-‐man task, I humbly submit as a draft for a whole tribe to be involved in. With that in mind I invite others to join us in this sacred task and labor of love to our First Nations peoples and to all who seek to walk the Good Road following Jesus. —Terry M. Wildman
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Big picture background There are almost 7,000 languages spoken on planet earth. Over 4,000 of these do not have a single completed book of the New Testament. Half of these don’t even have a written alphabet!
OneBook is a Canadian organization that is part of the Wycliffe Global Alliance. We partner with 11 locally-‐led organizations across Africa and Asia to accomplish an audacious goal:
• Tell God’s story in 250 languages for the very first time.
• In each language group, our partners create a written language hand-‐in-‐hand with a literacy program. At the same time, they translate the entire New Testament and engage the Church to use it. OneBook wants to see communities transformed.
We believe that the Gospel -‐ in the mother tongue, or the vernacular of the people – can completely transform not only individuals, but whole societies.
OneBook is investigating the possibility of working with Terry Wildman of Rain Ministries about the possibility of developing a First Nations Version of the New Testament in English for North America’s First Nations peoples. It would follow the model demonstrated in this sample booklet.
This would be a collaborative effort of a team of translators from multiple tribes across Turtle Island. A cross-‐section of the people of Turtle Island -‐ Elders, Pastors, teachers, academics, scholars, youth, men and women, and next generation leaders would lead the process.
Our hope would be that this group would consist of a cross-‐section of tribes from the Southern woods, to the buttes and mesas of the Southwest, across the plains once teeming with buffalo, mountain ridges and ocean shores covered with tall trees. Tribes from northern lakes and forests, and across the muskeg and icy lands of the far north will be contributors.
We would love to have your feedback. You may even want to join us.
To learn more about OneBook, visit www.onebook.ca
To learn more about the First Nations Version Project, visit www.firstnationsversion.com If you have any questions please contact: Terry Wildman – RainSong [email protected] 520-‐840-‐7223 Francois Robert – OneBook, VP–Program [email protected] 403-‐863-‐8624 Wayne Johnson – OneBook, President [email protected] 416-‐707-‐9066