SOME KEY BIBLE VERSES AND BIBLE TRUTHS
TRANSLATED INTO THE IRISH LANGUAGE
TRANSLATED INTO THE IRISH LANGUAGE
The
compiler of this site is a street evangelist in Cork City, Ireland and
has no knowledge of the Irish language. Yet, he is desirous "by
all means to save some" (1 Corinthians 9:22) My usual means of street
work involves taking down a sketchboard with a good gospel text chalked
up on it along with a catchy heading, designed to grab attention and
hopefully provoke thought on eternal matters. Sometimes, I will chalk
in good thick letters some words on the pavement in front of the
sketchboard - usually just a phrase - which also causes a few to stop
and look. Even just a simple word like "Brilliant!" or "Wonderful!" or
"Makes you think" in front of a sketchboard with more information can
help hammer the main thought home. In the photograph here, I have
chalked 'Jesus is the way' in Irish (Is é Íosa an
tSlí) on the pavement and found it very effective. Irish is the
first language according to the Constitution, yet in reality it plays
second fiddle to English in every day speech. Many of those who can
read it must stop and concentrate for a moment or two - the mere glance
is insufficient. Some ask for a translation. This has given me
opportunity to speak to them about their need of Christ. One of the most effective preachers in Irish was Gideon Ousley and his companion John Graham, who preached with the Methodists in the early 19th century. John Graham's biographer writes concerning the Irish language:
"Who that knows the power and pathos of that language, would wish it to be extinguished? It is emphatically the language of feeling, and of the heart. For instance, when in the ordinary forms of the English language, we would merely express a welcome, in the native language the greeting would be: 'Cead mille faltha roath' - an hundred thousand welcomes before you, or await you. This may be regarded as hyperbolical, but the meaning attached to it, and the manner in which it is generally delivered, have an influence on an Irishman's heart that the colder English could never convey. When an English mother expresses the full tide of her fondness for her child, it is 'my little dear.' But how far short does this fall of the expression of an Irish mother to her offspring. She calls it 'a cushla mo chree' or 'the vein, the pulse, the beating voice of my heart.' Any one can appreciate and admire this - a mother can only feel it. It is equally expressive in theology. For instance, the word 'reconciliation' signifies 'second friendship' ; the word 'atonement' signifies the same. An English reader has the idea of sacrifice attached to it, but it really means the friendship resulting from the sacrifice or as it has been expressed: At onement."
THE GAELIC TEXTS:
John/Eoin 14:6
English Translation: Jesus is the Way
Irish Translation: Is é Íosa an tSlí.
English Translation: Jesus is the Truth
Irish Translation: Is é Íosa an Fhírinne
English Translation: Jesus is the Life
Irish Translation: Is é Íosa an Bheatha
John/Eoin 3:7
English Translation: Ye must be born again
Irish Translation: Ní foláir sibh a ghiniúint arís ó lastuas
lit. 'It is necessary for ye to be conceived
again from above',
John/Eoin 3:16
English Translation: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Irish Translation: Óir ghráigh Dia an domhan chomh mór sin gur thug sé a Aonghin Mic uaidh i dtreo, gach duine a chreideann ann, nach gcaillfí é ach go mbeadh an bheatha shíoraí aige
This is a pretty close translation of John 3:16 as found in the KJV. Note the presence of gin in the word Aonghin, gin as a verb meaning 'to conceive', 'to beget' and as a noun meaning 'conception', 'preborn child' (ginmhilleadh 'abortion', lit. 'preborn-child-destruction'); hence the Irish reads 'His only begotten Son' rather than just 'His only Son'. The verb caill means 'to lose': nach gcaillfí é 'that he should not be lost', 'that he would not be lost'.
Jonah 2:9
English Translation: Salvation is of the Lord
Irish Translation: Is don Tiarna is dleacht an fhuascailt a dhéanamh
lit. 'It is the Lord to whom it is proper to make the redemption'. Is dleacht dom é 'It is my due', 'It is my lawful duty', 'It is proper to me'. fuascailt (f.) 'deliverance', 'redemption'. slánú 'salvation'; d'anam a dheánamh duit féin 'to work out one's own salvation', lit. 'to make your soul for yourself'; d'anam a shlánú 'to find salvation', lit. 'to save your soul' (This smells like merit-mongering but it is implicit that the subject is merely a passive agent); dóchas do shlánaithe a chur in Íosa 'to seek salvation in Jesus', 'to place the hope of one's salvation in Jesus'. salvation in Jesus'.
SCRIPTURAL "SLOGANS"
English Translation: Read the Bible
Irish Translation: Léigh an Bíobla
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English translation: Jesus saves
Irish Translation: Sábhálann Íosa
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English Translation: Seek the Lord
Irish Translation: Cuardaigh an Tiarna
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English Translation: No salvation in any other
Irish Translation: Níl Slánú i éinne eile
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English translation: Are you saved?
Irish translation: An bhfuil tú sábhálta
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English translation: Read the Bible
Irish translation: Léigh an Bíobla
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English translation: Seek the Lord
Irish translation: Lorg an Thiarna
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English translation: Are you ready?
Irish translation: An bhfuil tú réidh/ An bhfuil tú ullamh
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English translation: Full Salvation
Irish translation: Lán Slánú
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English translation: Free Salvation
Irish translation: Saor slánú
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English translation: Peace with God
Irish translation: Síocháin le Día
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English translation: Have you peace with God?
Irish translation: An bhfuil síocháin agat le Día
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English translation: After death…the judgement
Irish translation: Tar éis an Báis ...An breithúineas
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English translation: Read God's word
Irish translation: Léamh Briathair Dé
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English translation: Jesus is the Door
Irish translation: Is é Iosa an Doras
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English translation: By grace are you saved
Irish translation: Is le Grásta a bhfuil tú sábhálta
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See also article in Irish by Dick Keogh