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0:00:00 > 0:00:04- A Bible for all the world's people, - as the saying goes.
0:00:04 > 0:00:08- A new Welsh-language Bible - has just been published.
0:00:08 > 0:00:13- Today, I'm joined by the man - who translated this volume of work.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16- Welcome to - Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23- # Soli Deo gloria
0:00:23 > 0:00:27- # Soli Deo gloria
0:00:30 > 0:00:36- # Soli Deo gloria #
0:00:48 > 0:00:52- Today, I'm in the company - of Arfon Jones...
0:00:52 > 0:00:56- ..a long-time proponent - of the Welsh language.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59- He's completed an incredible feat...
0:00:59 > 0:01:03- ..by translating the entire Bible - to everyday Welsh.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03- The Bible has been translated - into Welsh three times.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07- William Morgan's important - masterpiece in 1588...
0:04:07 > 0:04:12- ..Y Beibl Cymraeg Newydd in 1988...
0:04:12 > 0:04:17- ..and now, Arfon Jones' work, - beibl.net, has been published.
0:04:20 > 0:04:26- The vast undertaking of translating - the Bible is now complete.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29- What was the original inspiration - for you?
0:04:29 > 0:04:31- I'd felt for a long time...
0:04:31 > 0:04:35- ..that we needed - a simple, dynamic translation...
0:04:35 > 0:04:38- ..of the New Testament, initially, - then the entire Bible.
0:04:38 > 0:04:44- For years, I was a youth officer - with the Independents, in the 1980s.
0:04:44 > 0:04:49- Youngsters remarked that they found - the Bible difficult to understand.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52- That was the original inspiration.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56- I married a girl from east London - and she learnt Welsh.
0:04:57 > 0:05:02- She learnt Wlpan Welsh, - the everyday language.
0:05:02 > 0:05:07- There's a bridge to cross - between everyday Welsh...
0:05:07 > 0:05:10- ..and the literary language - of the Bible.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14- I could see two target audiences...
0:05:14 > 0:05:17- ..young people and learners.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20- I was eager to write something...
0:05:20 > 0:05:25- ..that people without a chapel - background could understand.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29- A lot of jargon is used - in chapels...
0:05:29 > 0:05:33- ..and quite often, - people listening to that jargon...
0:05:33 > 0:05:38- ..don't understand it, let alone - people who don't attend chapels.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40- That was my main intention.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44- Were you worried about - offending the tradition?
0:05:45 > 0:05:47- Some consider the Bible...
0:05:47 > 0:05:51- ..with the finery of its language - and its status, as sacrosanct.
0:05:52 > 0:05:57- I feel as I've offended traditions - for many years!
0:05:57 > 0:06:00- I can't say I was worried - about doing that.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02- It was an important part - of the process.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05- When you read New Testament Greek...
0:06:06 > 0:06:11- ..it's the language of the market, - not classical Greek.
0:06:12 > 0:06:17- To some extent, translating - to the language of the market...
0:06:18 > 0:06:23- ..is a more faithful interpretation - than a formal translation.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27- Now that the work is over, - how do you feel?
0:06:28 > 0:06:32- I feel quite surprised to be honest.
0:06:32 > 0:06:38- Over the years, I thought young - people would want to read it...
0:06:38 > 0:06:42- ..on a computer or a tablet, - not a book...
0:06:42 > 0:06:46- ..but the demand for the book - has been astonishing.
0:06:48 > 0:06:53- I had to accept that misjudgement - and accept I'd made a mistake.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36- Arfon, this is your cage.
0:09:36 > 0:09:41- How many hours did you spend - in here translating the Bible?
0:09:41 > 0:09:45- Most of my life over the past year.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48- I'd get up at 6.00am or 7.00am...
0:09:49 > 0:09:53- ..and work through until midnight - and beyond sometimes...
0:09:53 > 0:09:56- ..from February until July...
0:09:56 > 0:10:00- ..to prepare the text - for publication.
0:10:00 > 0:10:01- It was a lot of work...
0:10:02 > 0:10:06- ..but the lion's share of the work - had been done in previous years.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09- Was it a lonely existence for you?
0:10:09 > 0:10:16- At times, yes, but I was in touch - with people across the world...
0:10:17 > 0:10:21- ..discussing how to translate - the Bible correctly.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25- I also asked a lot of people - to proofread the text.
0:10:25 > 0:10:30- You mentioned the importance - of using everyday language.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33- In Wales, we have different dialects - across the country.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36- How did you overcome that problem?
0:10:36 > 0:10:38- That was a major problem.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42- As you say, the dialect - changes from place to place.
0:10:42 > 0:10:47- In the end, it was a compromise - between North Wales and South Wales.
0:10:47 > 0:10:52- Northwalians complained about the - Southwalian words and vice versa.
0:10:52 > 0:10:57- When I completed the original - translation for the Internet...
0:10:57 > 0:11:02- ..I was hoping people would download - it and change words...
0:11:02 > 0:11:06- ..to suit their local dialect.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11- People haven't done that - - they've read it as it is.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14- Let's have a closer look - at the website.
0:11:14 > 0:11:21- I've noticed all the verses and - the different parts of the Bible.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25- You can also search for text - very easily.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28- Yes, you can. - The website is excellent.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32- I've had a lot of help - from technically-minded people...
0:11:32 > 0:11:34- ..who understand these things.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37- I wanted a library, a bookshelf.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40- The Bible is a collection - of documents.
0:11:40 > 0:11:47- It's a volume of work - written over thousands of years.
0:11:47 > 0:11:52- Let's hear an example of words - that are familiar to us all...
0:11:52 > 0:11:54- ..such as The Lord Is My Shepherd.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57- Read your version to us.
0:11:57 > 0:11:58- Here it is.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03- The Lord is my shepherd; - I shall not want.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06- He makes me - to lie down in green pastures;
0:12:06 > 0:12:09- He leads me beside the still waters.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11- He restores my soul;
0:12:11 > 0:12:15- He leads me in the paths of - righteousness for His name's sake.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18- Though I walk through the - valley of the shadow of death
0:12:19 > 0:12:21- I fear no evil; - For You are with me;
0:12:21 > 0:12:24- Your rod and Your staff, - they comfort me.
0:12:26 > 0:12:38- # The Lord is my shepherd; - I shall not want
0:12:40 > 0:12:50- # He makes me - to lie down in green pastures
0:12:51 > 0:13:03- # He leads me - beside the still waters
0:13:04 > 0:13:10- # The Lord is my shepherd
0:13:10 > 0:13:12- # Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
0:13:13 > 0:13:16- # Ooh-ooh
0:13:17 > 0:13:23- # He restores my soul
0:13:23 > 0:13:28- # He leads me
0:13:29 > 0:13:34- # In the paths of righteousness
0:13:34 > 0:13:45- # For His name's sake
0:13:52 > 0:14:03- # Yea, though I walk through - the valley of the shadow of death
0:14:04 > 0:14:09- # I will fear no evil
0:14:09 > 0:14:14- # For You are with me
0:14:14 > 0:14:18- # Your rod and Your staff
0:14:18 > 0:14:20- # They comfort me
0:14:21 > 0:14:30- # You prepare a table before me - in the presence of my enemies
0:14:31 > 0:14:43- # You anoint my head with oil; - my cup runs over
0:14:44 > 0:14:49- # Surely goodness and mercy
0:14:50 > 0:14:55- # Shall follow me
0:14:55 > 0:15:00- # All the days of my life
0:15:01 > 0:15:11- # And I will dwell - in the house of the Lord
0:15:11 > 0:15:20- # Forever
0:15:22 > 0:15:34- # The Lord is my shepherd; - I shall not want
0:15:35 > 0:15:46- # He makes me - to lie down in green pastures
0:15:46 > 0:16:00- # He leads me - beside the still waters
0:16:01 > 0:16:07- # The Lord is my shepherd
0:16:08 > 0:16:10- # Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
0:16:11 > 0:16:16- # Ooh-ooh #
0:16:21 > 0:16:25- One of your important contributions - over the years...
0:16:25 > 0:16:28- ..is translating religious songs.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32- I've been busy for many years - translating songs.
0:16:32 > 0:16:39- It embraces the same principle as - the one that exists for beibl.net
0:16:39 > 0:16:45- The desire to make the Gospel - relevant to the modern day.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50- I have a lot of respect - for the traditional hymns.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53- Who can't appreciate them?
0:16:54 > 0:16:59- I feel we have to learn - how to communicate the Gospel.
0:16:59 > 0:17:05- We must discover ways of worshipping - that are relevant today.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09- We're about to hear one of your - translations. Which hymn is it?
0:17:10 > 0:17:13- Y Groes Uwch Y Cwbl Oll - - The Cross Stands Above It All.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17- It's a song about the essence - of the Christian faith.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22- It relates to the one thing - that's fundamental to Christians...
0:17:22 > 0:17:24- ..the death of Jesus on the cross.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27- If you don't understand - the message of this song...
0:17:28 > 0:17:30- ..you don't truly understand - Christianity.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37- # Beyond this lifetime
0:17:37 > 0:17:41- # Beyond this darkness there's light
0:17:43 > 0:17:46- # Your cross is shining
0:17:46 > 0:17:51- # So people open your eyes
0:17:51 > 0:17:55- # The cross stands above it all
0:17:55 > 0:17:58- # Burning bright in this life
0:17:58 > 0:18:03- # The cross towers over it all
0:18:04 > 0:18:07- # One hope, one deliverer
0:18:07 > 0:18:12- # Saviour reigning high above it all
0:18:13 > 0:18:16- # Above it all
0:18:17 > 0:18:20- # The cross towers over it all
0:18:20 > 0:18:23- # Burning bright in this life
0:18:24 > 0:18:28- # The cross towers over it all
0:18:29 > 0:18:33- # One hope, one deliverer
0:18:33 > 0:18:37- # Saviour reigning high above it all
0:18:38 > 0:18:41- # Above it all
0:18:42 > 0:18:46- # Christ has overcome
0:18:48 > 0:18:54- # It is finished, he has won
0:18:54 > 0:18:59- # Christ has overcome
0:19:00 > 0:19:05- # We're standing strong
0:19:08 > 0:19:12- # Christ has overcome
0:19:13 > 0:19:19- # It is finished, he was won
0:19:20 > 0:19:25- # Christ has overcome
0:19:25 > 0:19:29- # We're standing strong
0:19:33 > 0:19:36- # The cross stands above it all
0:19:36 > 0:19:39- # Burning bright in this life
0:19:39 > 0:19:43- # The cross stands above it all
0:19:45 > 0:19:49- # One hope, one deliverer
0:19:49 > 0:19:53- # Saviour reigning high above it all
0:19:54 > 0:19:56- # Above it all
0:19:58 > 0:20:01- # The cross stands above it all
0:20:02 > 0:20:04- # Burning bright in this life
0:20:04 > 0:20:09- # The cross towers over it all
0:20:10 > 0:20:14- # One hope, one deliverer
0:20:14 > 0:20:18- # Saviour reigning high above it all
0:20:19 > 0:20:22- # Above it all #
0:20:41 > 0:20:45- After all the hard work - translating the Bible...
0:20:45 > 0:20:48- ..what else - do you hope to accomplish?
0:20:48 > 0:20:50- There's plenty to do.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54- I'm looking ahead to next year - - Sharing the Living Word.
0:20:54 > 0:20:59- The Bible Society, the Sunday School - society, Gobaith i Gymru...
0:20:59 > 0:21:03- ..and all the denominations, I hope, - will be part of a campaign...
0:21:03 > 0:21:06- ..to get Welsh speakers - to read the Welsh Bible.
0:21:07 > 0:21:12- It's been a pleasure to meet you - and learn so much about your work.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14- We end with the hymn...
0:21:14 > 0:21:18- ..O Arglwydd Gwna Ni'n Ffyddlon - I'th Hetifeddiaeth Ddrud...
0:21:18 > 0:21:20- ..sung to the hymn tune Efailwen.
0:21:21 > 0:21:22- From the two of us, cheerio.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38- S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.
0:23:38 > 0:23:39- .