Meriam Mer
The Meriam Mer or Meriam Mir language is spoken in the Murray Islands on some of the eastern part of Torres Straits, off northern Queensland, Australia, especially on Murray Island (Mer).
Bible Translation
The London Missionary Society (LMS) began work on the Torres Straits Islands in 1871, when Samuel MacFarlane and Rev A. W. Murray arrived. The mission was based at Somerset, Cape York. The mission on Murray Island started in 1877. The Torres Straits islands were administered as part of Queensland from 1879.
The first part of the Bible in Meriam Mer was the Gospel of Mark, called Evangelia Mareko detali. This includes a brief catechism, the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments and 43 hymns. These were translated by Samuel McFarlane from the London Missionary Society, and printed by the New South Wales Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society, in Sydney, by Foster and Fairfax in 1879.
After this selected parables from the Gospels, called Iesu ra giz abkoreb erub Mer, were translated by J. Tait Scott of the London Missionary Society, and published by him at Montrose. These were dedicated to the memory of the translator's infant son with the words "Mamoro akiapor David Baxter Scott, eumeda, 13th July 1882"
The Gospel of Mark was revised as Euangelia Mareko detarer, and John was translated by Samuel McFarlane and Harry Scott of the London Missionary Society Murray Island Mission. These were printed together by the New South Wales Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society, in Sydney by Edward Lee, Steam Machine Printer in 1885.
Four Gospels
In 1902 all four Gospels were printed as Abele Iauali Kerkar Gelar Meriba Opole Iesu Keriso, Depegeli Miriam Mer, Neis a Neis Euangerlia Detarare: Mataio, Mareko, Luka, Ioane. This included Mark and John translated by Samuel Macfarlane and Harry Scott of the London Missionary Society, with Matthew by Finau, a Samoan teacher on Murray Island, and Luke by Iotama, a teacher on Darnley Island (Erub). The whole volume revised for the press by Harry and Mary Scott of the London Missionary Society. They were published in London by the British and Foreign Bible Society 1902.
Digital Edition
The 1902 four Gospels were digitised for the Australian Bible Society with the help of MissionAssist in 2022.
