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

Kuwaripatjara mulapa uwankara wiyangka Godanya nyinangi, ka palula tjungu kutjupa nyinangi ini Tjukurnga. Panya paluṟu Godanya alatjiṯu. Nyara paluṟu manta kuwaripangka nyinangi Godala tjungu. Munu pula tjungungku uwankara paluṉu. Mamalu kutjungku paluntja wiya, tjungungku alatjiṯu pula kutjupa kutjupa uwankara paluṉu. Kaya Tjukurnguṟu kutju aṉangu tjuṯa wanka nyinanyi, panya paluṟu wanka alatjiṯu munu paluṟu uwankara wanka kanyini. Panya Tjukurtu tili wirkakatingu aṉangu tjuṯa irnyantjaku tjana nyakula tjukaṟurungku kulintjaku Godanya. Tili nyara paluṟu mungawaḻuṟu irnyaṟa wiyalpai alatjiṯu, ka mungawaḻuṟungku tili nyara palunya puṯu wiyaṉi. Tili paluṟu ngaṟanyi alatjiṯu wiyaringkunytja wiya.
Palu Godalu wati kutju iyaṉu ini Johnnga. Ka paluṟu pitjangu tili nyanga palunya tjakultjunkunytjikitja aṉangu winkingku kuliṟa mulamularingkunytjaku. Wati nyara paluṟu tili wiya palu paluṟu tili palunya ngaṉmanytju tjakultjunkunytjikitja pitjangu. Tili nyara paluṟu tjukaṟuru mulapa aṉangu winki irnyalpai. Nyara paluṟu mantangka wirkaṟa utiringu.
Mama Godalu Tjukurwanungku manta paluṉu. Ka Tjukurnga mantangka wirkaṟa nyinangi, palu aṉangu tjuṯangku palunya puṯu ngurkantanangi. Paluṟu manta paluntjatjanu aṉangu walytja tjuṯakutu pitjangu, kaya walytja tjuṯangku palumpa pukuḻarinytja wiyangku wantingi. Palu aṉangu kutjupa tjaraya palumpa pukuḻaringu munuya palumpa mulamularingu. Ka nyara palulanguṟu paluṟu tjananya Godaku walytjaringkunytjaku palyaṉu. Paluṟu wangkanyangka tjana Mama Godaku katjaringu munu uṉṯalaringu palumpa tjukurwanu. Watinguṟu munu minymanguṟu wiya, palu panya Godanya mukuringkunytjanguṟu kutju.
Ka Tjukurnga mantakutu pitjala iṯiringkula aṉanguringu, munu nganaṉala tjungu nyinangi ngaḻṯunytju pukuḻtju puḻka, munu paluṟu nganaṉala Mama Godanya tjukaṟurungku alatjiṯu nintiningi. Kala nganaṉa nyangu palunya wiṟu mulapa witulya puḻka alatjiṯu, panya Mama Godalu palunya alatjirinytjaku iyaṉu palumpa katja kutjukuṟutja.
Ka John Baptistalu palunya nyakula aṉangu tjuṯangka tjakultjunangi alatji katuwanungku wangkara, “Nyanga palunya panyaṉa ngayulu ngaṉmanytjulpi nyurala wangkangi alatji, ‘Ngayula maḻangka kutjupa pitjanyi. Nyara paluṟu puḻka mulapa ngayula waintarinytja. Paluṟu panya kuwaripatjara nyinanytja.’ Alatji panyaṉa nyurala ngaṉmanytju wangkangu.”
Ka Tjukurnga panya ngaḻṯunytju pukuḻtju puḻka munu paluṟu nganaṉanya pukuḻtjungku tiṯutjarangku kanyini wantinytja wiyangku. Godalu tjukurpa puḻka ungu Mosenya aṉangu tjuṯaku, palu Jesulu Christalu pukuḻtjungku tjukaṟurungku utinu mukulya puḻka mulapalta. Aṉangu kutjupangku Godanya yunpa nyakunytja wiya. Palu palumpa katja palula tjungu nyinapai munu paluṟu nganaṉala utinu palumpa Mama, panya paluṟu Godanya alatjiṯu.


Ka panya Johntu aṉangu tjuṯa baptise-katingi ngura ini Piitjanila uṟu panya ini Jordanta kakaraṟa. Ka Jewku mayatja tjuṯangku Jerusalemalanguṟu wituṟa iyaṉu wati tjukurtjara tjuṯa, munu wati timpulangka waṟkaripai tjuṯa kuḻu ankula Johnnga tjapintjaku alatji, “Nyuntu ngananya? Tjukaṟurungkulanya tjakultjura.” Kanku Johntu ngapartji tjukaṟurungku tjanala wangkangu utingku, “Wiya, ngayuluṉa Christanya wiya. Ngayulu Wankaṟunkupai Godalu panya kalkuntjitjanya wiya.”
Kaya piṟuku tjapinu, “Palu ngananyan wanyu, Ilaitjanyan?”
Ka wangkangu, “Wiyaṉa.”
Kaya tjapiṟa wangkangu, “Palu Godaku wangkatjaran wanyu?”
Ka wangkangu, “Wiyaṉa.”
Kaya piṟuku wangkangu, “Palu ngananyan wanyu? Tjakultjuralanya kala ankula tjanala wangka, panya nyara tjana nyuntunya kulintjikitja mukuringanyi. Nyaan wanyu nyuntunku wangkanyi?”
Ka Johntu wangkangu, “Ngayuluṉa panya paluṟu, panya Aitjayalu iriti walkatjunu nyanga alatji,
‘Wangka kutju mirapai ilytjingka nyanga alatji,
“Iwaraya tjukaṟurula Mayatjanya pitjanytjaku.” ’
Alatji Aitjayalu ngayunyatjara iriti wangkangi.”
Ka palulanguṟu Paṟatji tjuṯangku ngapartji Johnta tjapiningi, panya palunya tjananya kuḻu Jewku mayatja tjuṯangku Jerusalemalanguṟu wituṟa iyaṉu Johnta tjapintjaku. Munuya alatji palula tjapinu, “Kan nyaaku wanyu baptise-katinyi panya Wankaṟunkupainya Godalu kalkuntjitjanya wiyangkumpa, Ilaitjanya wiyangku, wangkatjara wiyangkumpa?”
Ka Johntu ngapartji tjanala wangkangu, “Ngayuluṉa minangka baptise-katipai, palu kutjupa nyurala ngurpatja ngaṟanyi. Wati paluṟu ngayula maḻangka pitjanyi. Panya paluṟu puḻka mulapa ngayula waintaṟa alatjiṯu. Kaṉa yaaltji-yaaltjingku kurangku palumpa waṟka palyalku? Wiya alatjiṯu panya paluṟu puḻka mulapa.” Nyanga alatji Johntu tjanala wangkangi wati Moseku tjukurtjara tjuṯangka.
Nyanga alatjiringu Johntu baptise-katinyangka ngura ini Piitjanila uṟu panya ini Jordanta kakaraṟa.

Ka tjiṉṯungka Johntu Jesunya nyangu palulakutu ngalya-pitjanyangka, munu nyakula paluṟu aṉangu tjuṯangka wangkangu, “Ala, nyawaya! Nyangatja panya paluṟu Godaku panya lamalama, panya nyanga paluṟu aṉangu uwankaraku ngalkilpa iluku Godalu tjananya kura palyantjitjanguṟu kalypangku pungkuwiyangku wantinytjaku. Nyanga palunya panyaṉa nyurala ngaṉmanytju tjakultjunangi alatji, ‘Ngayula maḻangka wati kutjupa pitjanyi ngayula waintarinytja puḻka mulapa, panya paluṟu ngaṉmanypa ngayula wiyangka nyinanytja.’ Ngayuluṉa palumpa ngurpa nyinangi, palu nyanga palumpaṉa ngaṉmanytju pitjala nintiningi uṟungka baptise-katira paluṟu Israelkunu tjuṯangka utiringkunytjaku.”
Munu piṟuku Johntu nyakunytjatjanungku tjakultjunu nyanga alatji, “Ngayulu nyangu Kurunnga ilkaṟinguṟu tjuḻpu kuukuuku puṟunypa ukalingkula palula nyinakatinyangka. Ngayuluṉa palumpa ngurpa nyinangi, palu panya Godaluṉi ngayunya aṉangu tjuṯa minangka baptise-katinytjaku iyaṉi, munuṉi nyanga alatji wangkangu, ‘Panya nyuntu nyakuku Kurunnga ukalingkula watingka nyinakatinyangka, nyara paluṟu aṉangu tjuṯa baptise-katiku Kurunpa Miḻmiḻṯa.’ Kaṉa ngayulu mulapa nyangu munu nyangaṉa tjakultjunanyilta alatji, ‘Nyanga paluṟu Godaku katja.’ ” Alatji Johntu tjanala wangkangu Jesunya.

Ka tjiṉṯungka piṟuku Johnnga nintintja kutjaratjara ngaṟangi ngura panya palulaṯu. Munu mungartji paluṟu Jesunya wati-pitjanyangka nyakula wangkangu alatji, “Ma-nyawa pula, Godaku lamalama pala wati-pitjanyi.” Ka pula nintintja kutjarangku kulinu nyangatja wangkanyangka munu pula Jesunya waṉaṉu. Ka Jesulu pinkuraraṟa nyangu pula ngalya-waṉannyangka munu pulala wangkangu, “Nyaaku nyupali ngayunya waṉaṉi?”
Ka pula wangkangu, “Rabbi, nguranku yaaltji?” (Pula Rabbi wangkangi tjanampa wangkangku Nintilpai.)
Ka pulala wangkangu, “Pitjala pula nyawa!”
Ka pula Jesula tjunguringkula anu munu pula ngura nyangu munuya nyara palulalta nyinara mungaringu. Palulanguṟu pula anu, ka kutju ini Andrew-lu Simon Peterku maḻanytju mapalku ankula nyangu tjukaṟurungku palumpa kuṯa munu palula tjakultjunu alatji, “Nyanguṉa panya Messiah-nya Godalu panya Kalkuntjanya!” (Messiah-nya panya wangka Iipuṟu, ka wangka kutjupa Kuṟiki panya Christanya wangkanyi, panya Wankaṟunkupainya Godalu panya Kalkuntjanya.) Munu katingu palunya Jesulakutu. Ka Jesulu nyakula palunya wangkangu, “Nyuntu ini Simonnga wati Johnku katja. Palu ngayuluṉanta inilku Tjiipatjanya.” (Palu Kuṟiki tjuṯangku ini nyanga palunya wangkapai Peternya panya waḻu, panya kuṉpu witulya tiṯutjara ngaṟapai.)
Tjiṟirpingka Jesulu kulinu alinytjara ankunytjikitjangku uṟu ini Galileelakutu. Munu paluṟu wati ini Philipanya nguriṟa nyakula wangkangu, “Ngayunyaṉi waṉala!” (Philipanya panya tawunu ini Pitjaitala nyinapai uṟu Galileela itingka. Ka Andrew-nya pula Peternya kuḻu ngura pala palunya nguraṟa.)
Ka Philipalu nguriṟa nyangu wati panya ini Natjanyulnga munu wangkangu palula, “Nyangula wati panyatja, panya Moselu iriti nyiringka walkatjunu wangkatjara tjuṯangku kuḻu. Nyara paluṟu Jesunya panya Josephaku katja ngura panya Nazarethanya nguraṟa.”
Ka Natjanyultu nyangatja kuliṟa puṯu mulamularingkula wangkangu, “Wiya Nazarethanya panya ngura kurakura, ka palunya nguraṟa kutju palya nyinanytja wiya?”
Ka Philipalu wangkangu, “Wiya, wanyu-puṯa pitjala nyawa ilangku.” Munu pula anu nyakunytjikitja.
Ka Jesulu nyangu pula pitjanyangka, munu ilaringkunyangka wangkangu, “Wati nyanga paluṟu Israelkunu palya mulapa, ngunti wangkapai wiya.”
Ka Natjanyultu palula wangkangu, “Yaaltji-yaaltjin ngayuku nintiringu?”
Ka Jesulu wangkangu, “Nyanguṉanta ngaṉmanytju Philipalu nyuntunya aḻṯinytja kuwaripangka, puṉu panya iḻi wiltjangka nyinanyangka.”
Ka Natjanyultu wangkangu, “Nintilpai, mulapa nyuntu Godaku Katja, mayatja puḻka Israelkunu tjuṯaku.”
Ka Jesulu palula wangkangu, “Mulapa panya palulanguṟun ngayuku mulamularingu? Panya nyuntu puṉu iḻi wiltjangka nyinanyangkaṉanta nyakula wangkangu, kan nyara palulanguṟu wanyu ngayuku mulamularinganyi? Palu wanyu kulila. Nyanga paluṟu puḻka wiya, palu nyuntu ngula puḻka mulapa nyakuku ngayulu palyannyangka. Nyara palulanguṟu nyuntu ngayuku puḻkaṟa mulamularingkuku.”
Munu piṟuku wangkangu tjanala, “Tjukaṟurungkuṉa nyurala wangkanyi nyura nyakuku ilkaṟi aḻaringkunyangka munu Godaku angelpa tjuṯa ukalingkula tatinnyangka Watiku Katjangka.”

Koute Johnku 1