Pitjantjatjara, often pronounced Pitjantjara, (emphasis on the first syllable) is one of the Western Desert family of languages found in Central and Western Australia. Speakers of the closely related language, Yankunytjatjara, will also be able to understand this Bible. It was originally spoken in the North West Corner of South Australia spilling over into Western Australia and the Northern Territory although, of course, then, there were no state borders. Today it is still widely spoken in that area particularly in what is now called the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in South Australia. Uluṟu and Kata Tjuṯa are important sites of the Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara people. The 2010 census puts the number of speakers at 2,363 but it also admits that figure is too low. The figure is more likely to be between 3,000 and 4,000. Translation of the Pitjantjatjara New Testament began in the early 1940s not long after the commencement of the Presbyterian Mission at Ernabella. The Gospel of Mark was completed at the end of 1945 and was finally published by the British and Foreign Bible Society in 1949. Work continued over the next 20 years resulting in the publication of a shorter New Testament in 1969 containing Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Ephesians, James and 1 John published by the same society, now renamed Bible Society in Australia. There was a period, then, of about 10 years in which no more translation was completed. In 1978, at the initiation of a local interest group in Ernabella, translation recommenced with portions of the Old Testament with the support of Bible Society Australia, Wycliffe Bible Translators, the Uniting Church in Australia and the Lutheran Church of Australia. This Pitjantjatjara Bible Translation Project became an incorporated association in 1981 and for the next 20 years, many Pitjantjatjara translators worked together with Wycliffe amp Bible Society translation advisors and consultants to complete a new translation of the New Testament and about 15% of the Old Testament. This volume was first published by the Bible Society in 2002. Reprints were done in 2007 (including some revisions), 2009, and 2014. In 2011 a new project to translate the rest of the Old Testament was initiated by a new generation of Pitjantjatjara translators –daughters and sons of the translators of the New Testament. There are currently over 20 translators working on various books of the Old Testament. The first book to be published in this new era was Daniel in 2015. In 2017-18 members of the Pitjantjatjara Bible Translation Project partnered with Bible Society Australia and Faith Comes by Hearing to do a dramatized multi-voice recording of the Pitjantjatjara New Testament. In the process a number of revisions were made and this edition reflects those changes.

Bible text: Pitjantjatjara © Bible Society Australia 2002, 2007, 2018 www.biblesociety.org.au Recording of the Bible ℗ Hosanna, 2018

Tjukurpa Palya

Nyanga palulanguṟu Jesulu Judeanya wantikatingu, munu Galileelakutu maḻaku ankula nyara palula kutju para-ngaṟangi ngura tjuṯangka. Panya ngura nyara Judeala wati panya Jewku mayatja tjuṯa palunya pungkunytjikitja mukuringangi. Palulanguṟu paluṟu Galileela kutju para-ngaṟangi.
Ka panya Jew tjuṯaku inma kutjupa ilaringu ini Wiltjanya. Kaya Jesuku maḻanypa tjuṯangku wangkangu palunya, “Ngura nyangatja wantikatira ara uḻpaṟira Judealakutu, kantaya nyuntunya pala waṉalpai tjuṯangku nyawa nyuntu miracle tjuṯa witulya puḻkangku palyannyangka. Tjinguṟu aṉangu kutjupa mukuringanyi aṉangu tjuṯangku palunya mirawaṉinytjaku, munu palulanguṟu paluṟu kutjupa kutjupa tjuṯa utingku palyalpai tjuṯangka miṟangka, kampangkaṯu palyantja wiyangku. Ka nyuntu uti palu puṟunypaṯu palyanma utingku aṉangu tjuṯangku nyakula nintiringkunytjaku manta winkitjangku.” Alatjiya Jesuku maḻanypa tjuṯangku palula wangkangi. (Palu paluṟu tjana kuḻuya palumpa mulamularingkuwiyangku wantingi.)
Ka Jesulu wangkangu tjanala, “Nyurampa ankunytjaku ngaṟanyangkaya nyura anama alatjiṯu, palu ngayuku kuwaripa ngaṟanyi. Panya aṉangu tjuṯa nyurampa kuraringkunytja wiya alatjiṯu, palu ngayuku kutjukuya kuraringanyi. Panya ngayulu tjanampa kura tjuṯa rawangku utini. Palya, nyura inmaku ankunytjaku ngaṟanyi. Palu ngayulu nyurala tjungu ankunytja wiya, panya ngayuku kuwaripa ngaṟanyi.” Munu wangkanytjatjanu Jesunya maḻaringkula wantira nyinangi Galileela. Kaya maḻanypa panya tjuṯa kutju anu.
Palu ngula Jesunya maḻawanu anu Jerusalemalakutu kampangkaṯu aṉangu tjuṯangku nyakunytjaku-tawara. Kaya inma nyara palula Jewku mayatja tjuṯangku palunya nguriningi witintjikitjangku munuya wangkangi, “Yaaltjiringu wati panya paluṟu?”
Kaya aṉangu tjuṯangku tjukurpa palunyatjara kampangkaṯu kutju wangkara kuliningi mayatja paluṟu tjana kulintjaku-tawara. Kutjupa tjarangkuya tjaalymaṟa anga-wangkangi alatji, “Wati palya nyaratja.” Kaya kutjupa tjarangku wangkangi, “Wiya, paluṟu ngunti wangkara aṉangu tjuṯa ngunti kuraṟa katiṟinanyi.” Palu tjana Jewku mayatja tjuṯangka miṟangka wangkanytja wiyaṯu palumpa tjanampa nguḻuringkula.
Ka inma nyanga paluṟu tjiṉṯu 7 ngaṟangi. Palu nguṟurpa tjiṉṯu maṉkurpa wiyaringkula Jesulu timpulangka tjarpara aṉangu tjuṯangka tjukurpa wangkara nintiningi. Kaya Jewku mayatja tjuṯangku palunya kuliṟa urulyaraningi munuya wangkangu, “Wati nyangatjampa yaaltji-yaaltji puḻkaṟa nintiringu? Panya kutjupangku palunya nintintja wiyaṯu.”
Ka Jesulu wangkangu tjanala, “Tjukurpa nyangatjaṉa wangkanyi ngayuku wiya, palu Godaluṉi nintinu nyara ngayunya iyantjalu. Kaṉi nganalu nintingku kuliṟa ngurkantankuku ngayulu nyanga wangkanyangka? Tjinguṟuṉa kutjungku kuliṟa wangkanyi, munta tjinguṟuṉa Mamalu nintinnyangka wangkanyi. Palu mulapa Mamala wangaṉarangku kulilpai tjuṯangku kutjuya kuliṟa tjukaṟurungku ngurkantankuku ngayulu wangkanyangka. Tjinguṟu ngayulu walytjangku kuliṟa wangkama kutjupa tjuṯangku ngayunya mirawaṉinytjaku. Palu wiya, ngayulu mukuringanyi Mamanya mirawaṉinytjaku nyara ngayunya iyantjanya. Nyara palulanguṟuṉa tjukaṟurungku wangkanyi ngunti wangkanytja wiyangku. Panyatja nyura kulini? Panya Moselu nyuranya ungu Godaku tjukurpa. Palu nyura mantjintjatjanungku uwankarangku kuliṟa wantipai, munu nyura nyaanguṟu ngayunya pungkunytjikitja mukuringanyi?”
Kaya aṉangu tjuṯangku wangkangu palula, “Nyuntun mamutjara. Nganalunta pungkunytjikitjangku kukanymanu?”
Ka Jesulu tjanala wangkangu, “Kutju-aṟa panyaṉa miracle palyaṉu mungaṯu Saturday-ngka tjiṉṯu panya pakuwiyaringkupaingka, ka panya nyura uwankarangku nyakula urulyaraṉu. Palu kutjupa-aṟa nyura kuḻu tjiṉṯu pala palula kutjupa kutjupa palyalpai. Panya Moselu nyuranya wangkangu iṯi katja wirkankunyangka tjiṉṯu 8 wiyaringkula palunya watintjaku. (Palu tjukurpa nyanga paluṟu Moselanguṟu wiya Aipuṟamala Jacobala tjanalanguṟu ngaṉmanypa alatjiṯu ngaṟanytja.) Ka panya kutjupa-aṟa iṯi katja tjinguṟu tjiṟirpi Friday wirkankupai, ka palulanguṟu tjiṉṯu 8 wiyaringkula palunya katira watintjaku ngaṟapai Saturday-ngka tjiṟirpi panya pakuwiyaringkupaingka. Ka nyura nyanga palumpa miiḻarantja wiyaṯu Saturday-ngka palyannyangka. Munu nyura nyaanguṟu ngayuku kutju miilaraṉi ngayulu tjiṟirpi pakuwiyaringkupaingka wati pikatjara puntu winki palyaṟungunnyangka?
“Kulila, uti nyura nyakula mapalku ngurkantaṟa kuranmankuwiyangku wantima, palu nyakula purkaṟangku kuliṟa tjukaṟurungku ngurkantanama.”

Kaya Jerusalemanya nguraṟa kutjupa tjarangku puṯu kuliṟa ngaparku tjapiningi wangkara, “Wati nyangatjaya panyatja pungkunytjikitjangku rawangku ngurini mayatja tjuṯangku. Nyawa! Nyanga paluṟu kuwari tjanala miṟangka ngaṟanyi munu nyanga utingku alatjiṯu wangkanyi, ka nyangaya pailwiyangku wantinyi! Tjinguṟuya kulini nyangatja mulapa Christanya Wankaṟunkupainya panya Godalu kalkuntjanya. Palu mulapa Christanya pitjanyangka nganaṉa puṯu kulilku yaaltjinguṟu paluṟu pitjangu, panya nganaṉa uwankara ngurpa. Palu wati nyangaku nganaṉa ninti, panya paluṟu Nazarethanya nguraṟa. Palulanguṟula palumpa puṯu mulamularinganyi.” Alatjiya wangkara waṉingi aṉangu Jerusalemanya nguraṟa tjuṯangku.
Ka Jesulu timpulaku yaatangka tjukurpa wangkangi munu mirara wangkangu alatji, “Mulapa nyura wanyu ngayuku ninti? Yaaltjinguṟuṉa pitjangu? Wiya, nyura ngurpa. Kulilaya! Ngayuluṉa walytjangku kuliṟa pitjanytja wiya. Panya ngayuku Mamangkuṉi iyaṉu. Nyara paluṟu tjukaṟuru alatjiṯu nyinanyi, ka nyura nyara palumpa ngurpa. Palu ngayulu kutju palumpa ninti, panya paluṟuṉi iyaṉu nyanga mantakutu, ka nyangaṉa nyinanyilta palulanguṟu pitjanytjatjanu.” Alatji Jesulu katungku wangkangi.
Kaya kutjupa tjuṯangku nyangatja kuliṟa palunya witintjikitjangku wangkangi, palu wantingiya witintja wiyangku, palumpa tjiṉṯu kuwaripaṯu ngaṟanyangka. Palu aṉangu kutjupa tjuṯaya palumpa mulamularingu munuya wangkangu, “Nyangatja alatjiṯu Christanya Wankaṟunkupainya panya Godalu kalkuntjampa, panya paluṟu miracle tjuṯa witulya puḻkangku palyaṉi. Ka kutjupangku puṯu palula waintariku. Nyanga paluṟu alatjiṯu kalkuntjanya panya.”

Kaya Paṟatji tjuṯangku kulinu aṉangu tjuṯangku Jesunyatjara tjaalymaṟa wangkanyangka. Munuya kuliṟa tjukurtjara kuranyitja tjuṯangka tjunguringkula wangkangi munuya wati timpula aṯunymankupai tjuṯa wituṟa iyaṉu Jesunya witintjaku. Ka tjana pitjanyangka nyakula Jesulu tjukurpa nyangatja wangkangi, “Kuwaripaṯuṉa nyurala tjukutjuku rawa nguwanpa nyinaku, munuṉa palulanguṟu maḻaku ankuku panya ngayunya iyantjalakutu. Ka nyura ngayunya nguriṟa puṯu nyakuku munu nyura puṯu ngayula waṉaṟa wirkankuku.”
Kayanku Jewku mayatja tjuṯangku anaṟa nguwantu wangkara kuliningi, “Wati nyangangku yaaltjikutu ankunytjikitjangku wangkanyi nganaṉa palunya puṯu ngurintjaku? Tjinguṟu paluṟu kulini nganampa walytja kutjupa tjuṯakutu ankunytjikitjangku ngura malikitja tjuṯakutu. Munu nyara palula tjinguṟu Jew wiya tjuṯangka ngapartji tjukurpa wangkara nintilku. Nganaṉa puṯu kulini wati nyangangku wangkanyangka, panya paluṟu nganaṉanya wangkangu, ‘Nyura ngayunya nguriṟa puṯu nyakuku munu nyura puṯu ngayula waṉaṟa wirkankuku.’ ” Alatjiyanku Jewku mayatja tjuṯangku Jesulu wangkanytja puṯu kulintjatjanungku wangkara kuliningi.

Ka inma panya paluṟu tjiṉṯu panya 7 ngaṟala wiyaringu, ka mungawinki inma maḻatjalta puḻka mulapa ngaṟangi wiyaringkunytjikitja. Ka tjiṉṯu nyanga palula Jesunya pakaṟa ngaṟangu munu wangka katungku mirara wangkangu, “Aṉangu mina ilu ngaṟalampa uti ngayulakutu pitjama munu tjikiṟa ipilyarima. Panya nyiringka iriti walkatjunkunytja nyanga alatji ngaṟanyi, ‘Nyuntu ngayuku mulamularingkunyangka nyuntula unngunguṟu mina kurunitja waḻa puṟunypa tiṯutjara ukalingkuku.’ ” Nyanga alatji Jesulu Kurunpa Miḻmiḻnga wangkangi panya ngula tjanala tjarpanyangka mina waḻa puṟunypa tiṯutjara ukalingkunytjaku. Palu nyara palula aṟangka Kurunpa Miḻmiḻnga tjanala tjarpanytja wiya kuwaripaṯu ngaṟangi, panya Jesunya ilunytjatjanu pakaṟa Godalakutu maḻaku ankunytja wiyaṯu kuwaripa nyinangi mantangka.

Kaya kutjupa tjuṯangku tjukurpa wangkanyangka kuliṟa wangkangu, “Munta, nyangatja-manti Godaku wangkatjarampa, panya nyanga palumpala paṯaningi.” Kaya kutjupa tjuṯangku wangkangu, “Wiya, nyangatja Christanya panya Wankaṟunkupainya Godalu panya kalkuntjanya.” Kaya kutjupa tjarangku wangkangu, “Palu wati nyanga paluṟu Galileenya nguraṟa. Wanyu Godalu kalkuṉu Christanya Galileelanguṟu pitjanytjaku? Wiya, panya nyiringka iriti walkatjunkunytja ngaṟanyi nyanga alatji, ‘Christanya Wankaṟunkupainya Mayatja Davidaku walytjapitinguṟu nyinaku munu iṯi ngariku ngura ini Bethlehemala nyara Davidaku ngurangka.’ ”
Alatjiya tjarangku tjarangku wangkara tjararingu Jesunya puṯu tjukaṟurungku ngurkantaṟa. Kaya kutjupa tjarangku palunya witintjikitjangku kuliningi, palu wantingiya witintja wiyangku.

Kaya wati panya timpula aṯunymankupai tjuṯangku witintja wiyaṯu maḻaku anu tjukurtjara kuranyitja tjuṯakutu munu Paṟatji tjuṯakutu. Ka tjananya paṯaṟa tjapinu, “Nyaaku nyura witiṟa katinytja wiyangku wantingu?”
Kaya timpula aṯunymankupai tjuṯangku wangkangu, “Wiya, wati nyarangku tjukurpa wiṟu mulapa wangkangi, wati panya kutjupa tjuṯangku puṟunypa wiya, palya mulapa.”
Kaya Paṟatji tjuṯangku wangkangu tjanala, “Munta, nyuranya kuḻu kawantjingaṉu? Kulila, nganaṉa wanyu Jewku mayatja tjuṯa Jesuku mulamularinganyi? Wiya alatjiṯu. Palu aṉangu nyanga kutjupa tjuṯa Moseku tjukurku ngurpa alatjiṯu, ka panya tjananya Godalu wiyalku.”
Ka Paṟatji kutju tjanala tjungu ngaṟangi, panya ngaṉmanypa Jesulakutu mungangka ankunytjanya, Nicodemusanya panya. Munu nyara paluṟu tjanala wangkangu Jewku panya mayatja tjuṯangka, “Nganampa tjukurtu panya alatji wangkanyi, ‘Utiya aṉangu kutjupa mapalku ngurkantaṟa kuranmankuwiyangku wantima, munu paluṟu palyantjatjanungku wangkanyangka kuliṟa kutju tjukaṟurungku ngurkantanama palumpa nintiringkula.’ ”
Kaya Nicodemusanya anaṟa wangkangu, “Ka nyuntu kuḻu wanyu Galileenya nguraṟa, wati nyara palula tjungutja? Wanyu tjukurpa pala iriti walkatjunkunytja nyawa Godaku wangkatjara tjuṯaku nintiringkunytjikitja, panya wangkatjara kutjupa Galileelanguṟu pitjanytja wiya alatjiṯu.” Nyara palulanguṟuya uwankara ngurakutu anu.

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