Bible Translation Day—Joint Resolution

In the Senate of the United States

April 19, 1967

To authorize the President to issue a proclamation designating the 30th day of September in 1967 as "Bible Translation Day."

Whereas there are over two thousand tribes living generally in out-of-the-way areas of the world in cultural isolation without books or even an alphabet and much less the Bible;

...and...

Whereas the translation of the Bible into these tribal languages requires that an alphabet and a thorough grammatical analysis of the language be produced, and results in an expansion of literacy and an improvement of the cultural base of the language groups affected;

...and...

Whereas this effort has cultural, economic, social and political significance quite apart from its spiritual significance;

...and...

Whereas a large group of linguistic scholars trained at the Universities of Oklahoma, North Dakota, Washington, Michigan, Indiana, California, Pennsylvania, Texas, and elsewhere are engaged in this task on a nonsectarian basis with the cooperation of foreign governments and institutions of higher learning, and deserve our encouragement;

...and...

Whereas the first translator of both the Old and New Testaments, Saint Jerome, died on the 30th of September;

Now, therefore be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation designating the 30th day of September in 1967 as "Bible Translation Day" and inviting the governments of States and communities and the people of the United States to observe such day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.