Living with this people group for six years before beginning to teach the gospel, allowed us to learn their language. It’s not possible to translate the Bible directly because so many of our innately understood expressions would be meaningless to the people. Instead, we needed a deep understanding of meaningful idioms specific to their culture. Below is an example of Bible verse translation:
Philippians 4:8 (New King James)
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.
Phillipians 4:8 (People group translation)
And now I give you (pl.) precisely the remaining words. Look my brothers, your hearts ought to be as if they are filled right up with good thoughts. Therefore I tell you. Live habitually thinking about what is only valuable, about only that thinking which goes true. Live habitually thinking about only the thoughts that are straight, only that which isn’t way off, about only pure thoughts, about only thoughts that help your spirit. Live habitually thinking about just that which makes you joyful, precisely about good, precisely of that which should be thought about prettily. Don’t be thinking about thoughts that remain mixed with bad evil.