During the month of September, Christians are being encouraged by the United Bible Societies to pray for the unfinished task of Bible translation around the world.

According to UBS, half of the world’s population still don’t have access to the full Bible in their heart language, and one in twenty do not have any Scripture translation in their heart language at all.

Bible Societies around the world are currently working on more than 450 translation projects that have the potential to touch and transform the lives of more than 4 billion people, two out of every three people alive today.

In Australia, Bible Society currently offers support to Indigenous and non-Indigenous translators working on more than 20 Bible translation projects among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. Work is currently underway helping the Pitjantjatjara people translate the Old Testament into their language, a task which will take approximately 15 years, working with willing Indigenous communities.

Bible translation in Australia is undertaken by Indigenous Christians committed to seeing the Bible in their own language, supported by linguists and translators from churches and mission organisations.

Bible Society Australia provides advice, support, help with the latest translation systems, assistance with training and the checking of text through translation consultants for Bible translation projects.

“It is an awesome thing for the Word of God to be in the heart language of the people because it is Jesus coming to become like an Aboriginal person, knowing the people, their feelings, the hurts, the pain, their whole identity,” says Mr Maratja Dhamarrandji, a Djambarrpuynu Translator.

The United Bible Societies’ Scripture Language Report, a guide to the annual progress of worldwide Bible translation, records the progress made in Bible translation every year. The figures show that the complete Bible has now been translated into 475 languages and the New Testament into 1,240.

For the month of September, UBS are calling for prayer support for this vital aspect of their ministry, as they lead up to the globally recognised International Translation Day on September 30th.

International Translation Day will be celebrated on a global scale, and has been promoted by the International Federation of Translators for the past 60 years, in order to raise awareness of the translation profession, which is becoming ever more essential in an era of globalisation.

UBS are sending short daily prayer updates about different translation projects through social media during September.

If you would like to receive each day’s prayer highlight throughout September, follow the United Bible Societies on Facebook or Twitter.