Buzz
As the best-selling book of all time, the Bible has been translated into 349 full languages, with portions available in over 2000 dialects. Beyond the widely recognized Chinese, French, and Swahili editions, there are also fascinating translations in both real-world and fictional languages.
1. Klingon
Devoted Star Trek enthusiasts often showcase their linguistic skills by conversing, writing, and reading in Klingon. It’s no surprise, then, that a Klingon version of the Bible exists. If you’ve ever been curious about how to express “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God” in Klingon, the answer is here. Just master your glottal stops and pronounce: “Daq the tagh ghaHta' the mu', je the mu' ghaHta' tlhej joH'a', je the mu' ghaHta' joH'a'.”
2. Lolcats
While not a functional language, lolcats have become a staple of internet culture, inspiring Martin Grondin to launch the LolCat Bible Translation Project in 2007. By 2010, the most notable passages were compiled into a book titled LolCat Bible: In teh beginnin Ceiling Cat maded teh Skiez an da Erfs n stuffs. For instance, Genesis 1:1 (“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”) transforms into a playful lolcat version: “Oh hai. In teh beginnin Ceiling Cat maded teh skiez An da Urfs, but he did not eated dem.”
3. The Word on the Street
Actor and performance poet Rob Lacey introduced The Word on the Street in 2003, offering a contemporary take on the Bible condensed to 500 pages. Its cover, depicting a solitary urban street, starkly contrasts with the traditional, solemn imagery often associated with biblical texts.
Lacey hesitated to label his creation as a Bible version, yet it masterfully retells biblical narratives in a conversational tone. His rendition of Genesis, for example, echoes the rhythm of Kerouacian beat poetry rather than traditional scripture.
Initially, there was nothing—no light, no time, no substance, no matter. Then, God set everything into motion with a commanding WHAP! Chaos filled the cosmos: no structure, no order, no purpose—just complete darkness. Above it all, God’s Holy Spirit hovered, poised to act. On the first day, God’s voice thundered, ‘Lights!’ and instantly, light illuminated the skies, banishing the night.
4. Pidgin English
If you attend church, you’re unlikely to hear "rispek fi yu an yu niem" this Sunday. Yet, this is how the Bible speaks in Jamaican patois, translating to "hallowed be thy name." In October 2012, a new Bible translation was officially launched at the Jamaican High Commission in London.
This translation was the result of over a decade of collaboration between linguists at the University of the West Indies and Jamaican theologians. The annunciation of the immaculate conception is conveyed as, "De angel go to Mary and say to 'er, me have news we going to make you well 'appy. God really, really, bless you and him a walk with you all de time," replacing the traditional, lofty phrasing of, "And having come in, the angel said to her, 'Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women.'"
