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.
TranslationJohn 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.
Massachusett The Eliot Indian Bible was produced in 1663 by Puritan missionary John Eliot. Mamusse Wunneetupanatamwe Up Biblum God on the cover page of the translated Bible means The Whole Holy His-Bible God, both Old Testament and also New Testament. It is a complete a translation of all 66 books (Old Testament and New Testament) in the Geneva Bible into the indigenous Massachusett language.
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.
TranslationJohn 3:16Original textFiero OrthographyJones 1831Apeech 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 bimaadiziwin.James 1833Kitche 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 1854Kahahpeech-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 1875Gaapij shauendʋ̱ sʋ Kishemanito iu aki, ogionjimigiuenʋn iniu baiezhigonijin Oguisʋn, aueguen dʋsh getebueienimaguen jibʋnatizisig, jiaiat dʋsh 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 2008ᐋᓃᔥ 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.
TranslationMatthew (Mrto) 6:9-13Lykins 1844Otisi 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. TranslationLord's Prayer, from Luke 11:2-4Roberts & 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' (Book Of Luke In Arapaho) : John Roberts; Andrew Cowell 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.
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.
TranslationJohn 3:16 Petter, 1912Maheo soss zehešemehotoss hestaneo exhessemeanoz henokoenoxzetto, nonoxpa zehetaeonissyomàtōez' emesaaasetoēhe, onitàz emeáena aenevostanehevestoz. Leman, 2007Ma'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.
TranslationJohn (Johannes) 3:16Zeisberger 1821Ntitechquo 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.
TranslationJohn 3:16London, 1870Eebŭchŭl 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.
Mi'kmaq Mi'kmaw language is part of the Algonquian family. In 1844, the Gospel of Mark was translated into Mi'kmaq (formerly 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 Mi'kmaq from Hebrew and Greek. A new version of the New Testament was published in Mi'kmaq 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.
TranslationJohn 3:16Rand 1875Mǔdǔ 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