Moscow, May 21, 2019
Photo: ibt.org.ru The Institute for Bible Translation (IBT) is continuing its blessed work of translating the Holy Scriptures into the languages of the indigenous peoples of Northern and Far Eastern Russia. Following on the heels of the translation of the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts into the Lak language, released in April, the IBT has released an illustrated translation of the book of the Prophet Jonah into the Yakut language, the Institute’s website reports.
The book of Jonah was also translated and published with illustrations in the Siberian Chukchi language last year.
The Yakuts are a Turkic ethnic group mainly living in the Russian Republic of Sakha. The Yakut language belongs to the Siberian branch of the Turkic languages.
This hardcover edition of the book of Jonah in the Yakut language is illustrated with unique drawings by Yakut artist Maria Adamova at the request of the IBT. 14 illustrations were made in all for each scene of the narrative. The faces resemble the Yakut people and the clothes their traditional clothing, in an effort to bring the narrative closer to the reader.
Photo: ibt.org.ru In addition to the Yakut text, the book also presents the Biblical story of Jonah in Russian and English, and includes the introductory remarks of His Eminence Archbishop Roman of Yakutia and Lena.
“The small but very deep story about the prophet Jonah awakens hope in the mercy of God in the heart of the attentive reader. As can be seen from this book, if someone turns to God with repentance, the Lord, treating him with fatherly mercy, can even change His intention to punish him,” writes the archbishop.
The work on the book was undertaken by experts in the Yakut language, experienced professionals in the field of Biblical translation, and a theological, and linguistic editor.
The Yakut translation group is also preparing a dictionary of Biblical terms, as well as the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Ruth, Esther, the Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes.
The new volume, as well as the previously-published New Testament, Psalter, and Book of Proverbs in the Yakut language can be downloaded from the IBT website.
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