Manx Apocrypha 1772 (GLVBFB)

Overview

This volume contains two books of the Apocrypha -- the Wisdom of Solomon (Creenaght Solomon) and Ecclesiasticus (Creenaght Yeesey Mac Sirach) -- translated into Manx as part of the first complete Manx Bible project directed by Bishop Mark Hildesley (1698-1772), Bishop of Sodor and Man from 1755 until his death. [1] Hildesley organized a committee of Manx clergy to produce the translation. The New Testament appeared in 1767, the first volume of the Old Testament in 1771, and the second volume (including these two Apocrypha books) was completed in 1772 and published in 1773. [1] The complete Manx Bible (Yn Vible Casherick) was issued as a single volume in 1775 by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK). [2] Earlier Manx translation efforts had been initiated by Bishop Thomas Wilson (who translated the Gospel of Matthew and produced a Manx prayer book) and Bishop Robert Phillips. [1] Manx is a Goidelic Celtic language closely related to Irish and Scottish Gaelic. The language experienced severe decline during the 19th and 20th centuries and was once considered extinct, with the last native speaker, Ned Maddrell, dying in 1974. However, revitalization efforts beginning in the 1970s have produced a new generation of speakers. [3] The Hildesley Bible remains one of the most important literary works in the Manx language.

References

Language and People

Manx (ISO 639-3: glv) is spoken by approximately 1,660 people. [Glottolog: manx1243]

Publishing and Organizations

Published by British and Foreign Bible Society.

References