Efforts to translate the Bible into more world languages are accelerating, despite the pandemic.
Wycliffe Bible Translators says 717 languages now have a full Bible translation – almost 10% of the number of languages spoken in the world – an increase of 13 languages on the previous year. Although one in five people are still waiting for the Bible in their own tongue, one new translation was launched every week during the pandemic.
Executive director of Wycliffe, James Poole, says he is encouraged by this progress: ‘Many people are rejoicing because, for the first time ever, they’ve been able to read God’s word in their own language and see for themselves what we take for granted’.