God, When Will You Speak in My Tongue?

I have spoken a lot about my passion to see the Word of God translated into every person's heart language; however, there is a passion more powerful than this---that of the personally yearning---the passion that the Bibleless people of the earth have to receive it themselves. The poem below was written by a man from Southern Sudan, as he tried to put words to his desire to receive the Bible in his language.

As I've expressed here before, some of the places where Bible translation is still needed have few to no believers yet. However, in much of Africa, there are places where the Gospel was brought decades ago and there is a vibrant church, but no Bible in the language of the people! As Ed Lauber (a missionary in Ghana) puts it, "In such cases, believers long to have God’s word in a language they really understand. They know that the Bible is being translated into languages around them, and they wonder when it will be their turn."

God, When Will You Speak in My Tongue?

Far and near

It is said that you, God, speak!

How do you do that?

Is it in their tongues?

If it is truly so,

God, when will you speak in my tongue?

East and west, north and south,

The Creator speaks, it is said!

Not in the language as of birds;

But in other human tongues I cannot understand!

God, when will you speak in my tongue?

Children and grown-ups of other lands,

With their different tongues,

Know your voice.

In their tongues you speak a special message to them!

If you speak messages in different tongues,

God, when will you speak in my tongue?

In the world around, we perceive you,

Yet your language is not clear.

We want to know you personally,

We want to hear you speak to us.

If you know all tongues,

God, when will you speak in my tongue?

We search you as a treasure.

Our eyes look on mountains, rivers,

Even in caves, forest and world around us.

Many voices are heard, confused we become,

If your voice is one, as of that of the Creator of all,

God, when will you speak in my tongue?

Oh! God, Creator of all people,

You who do not segregate,

Is it possible to hear you speak?

Can you speak in my tongue?

God, when will you speak in my tongue?

—James Lokuuda Kadanya

James speaks the Toposa language of South Sudan, which is spoken by more than a half million people. Today he is operating Salt and Light Outreach Ministries in South Sudan.

This post originally appeared on July 22, 2011, at http://blog.theseedcompany.org/bible-translation-2/god-when-will-you-speak-in-my-tongue-2/#.VLbDw8aUf8E