Portions of the Book of Common Prayer in Shoshoni

"A shortened church service in the Shoshone Indian language. Translated from the Book of Common Prayer, during the year 1899, by Charles Lajoe and the Reverend John Roberts, missionary clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal Church."

Introduction

This translation into Shoshoni of portions of the Book of Common Prayer was prepared by missionary-translator John Roberts (1883-1963), with the assistance of native speakers of Shoshoni.

The American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming provides the following biography of Roberts:

John Roberts was an Episcopalian missionary who worked among the Arapaho and Shoshone people of the Wind River Reservation of Wyoming for sixty-nine years. He was born in 1853 at Rhuddlan, in North Wales. He was educated in Wales and later received an M.A. degree from Oxford University, England. He was ordained a deacon in Litchfield [sic] Cathedral in 1878.

In 1883, John Roberts was sent to the Shoshone Indian reservation in Wyoming to work among the Indians and organize missions among the white settlers in the adjacent territory. While there, he established St. Michael’s Mission for the Arapahos and the United States Government Indian Boarding Industrial School for the Shoshones and Arapahos. In 1889, he also established the Shoshone Indian Mission Boarding School. He translated Biblical texts and church-related material into the Arapaho and Shoshone languages with the assistance of Arapahos Fremont Arthur and Michael White Hawk and Charles Lajoe of the Shoshone.

William Muss-Arnolt discusses Roberts's missionary work and other translations—but not his translation into Shoshoni—in Chapter XLIX of The Book of Common Prayer among the Nations of the World (1914):

A Northern Arapaho, Fremont Arthur, deceased, compiled, some years ago, a little book of Questions and Answers, a sort of Catechism, in both English and Arapahoe. It contains from the Prayer Book: the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Creed, with the answer, following the Creed, in the Catechism. The American Bible Society published a translation of the Gospel according to Saint Luke. New York, 1903. The translation was made by the Rev. John Roberts, of the Shoshone Mission of the Protestant Episcopal Church to the Shoshone and Arapaho Indians, Wyoming.

This translation is not listed in David Griffiths’s Bibliography of the Book of Common Payer 1549-1999 (London: The British Library; New Castle, Delaware: Oak Knoll Press, 2002). This text was digitized in 2011 by Richard Mammana from a copy of the original provided by Thomas Rae.

Sentences

Oo-nang-a-chant san goo-no oon-deg ooagan dam-e Ma-gooid-joon-ichan-din Crist.
     "Oi-id-e-chant did-joo-nis-oon-gan-di ne-ooa-gant gim, mym-u sa ne ma-nes-soong-ar-oo.
     Dam Appua div-id-je mo-ats dam me-shoo-ang-int sooka bum bu-ned-ooa soor dam-u-vit na-oot-oon soo-roo-ee oi-id oo-nang-ar-o-gooa-soo-ang-an-di div-id-je ka dea-ooi soo-va.
     Ma-nang-achant S. Paul deg-ooap-a Ish-yn-dats div-idj-id-in oon-deg-ooap oi-id-e-chint ma-nang-ar-o-gooa-soo-angch. Crist Dzees dam-sog-o-vant oo-a-pa geg-a-shoo-ant magooid-joon-i-dooe.
     Ma-nang-achant S. John deg-oo-ap-a Sis-im-a a-ooeec ka-dza dim-a-voo-each dam hansh dam Appu-ooag-ant dam-u-ved nar-e-ma-ga-hoon-doo Dzees Crist sant-din-emys des-oo-id-e-ym-bedoo nar-e-ma-gar-o dam yn geg-esh-oo-i-bed.
     Mei koo dam nan-e-shoon-de-hi-dooe.

     Nim Appua An-doo-a nim u nan-e-ja-oohi nim-e nangachant.
     Nim Appua An-doo-a nim u nan-e-ja-oohi nim-e nangachant.
     Nim Appua An-doo-a nim u geg-esh-u-an nim-e goe-jo-hink.
     Nim Appua An-doo-a nim u geg-esh-u-an nim-e goe-jo-hink.

     Nim Appua An-doo-a nim-e shoon-de-hi.
     Nim Appua An-doo-a nim-e shoon-de-hi.
     Crist nim-e shoon-de-hi.
     Crist nim-e shoon-de-hi.
     Nim Him-be-chant nim-e shoon-de-hi.
     Nim Him-be-chant nim-e shoon-de-hi.

     Nim Appur nim-e-evant U nan-e har yn sant. Des nim oid un nang-ar-o goosh-oon-gai. Meik-oo tza sog-go-vant dam-u-vant ooa-e oosh. Sik-an dav-e nim-yn-dig-a à nim-e mag. Non hin-an-ditc nim eig-ooe kap-ant kà kà-dza nim-soo-ang-int, nim-e dadz no nim-e didc di-eig-ooe-kap-ant kà haga nim-e soo-ang-un. Kà-din-o did-jin-dim-bed nim-e jam-ur, did-jint and-a-poos yn-dag-ar nim-e jam-u. Un ny dy ish oit da Appuà des hin oiok ma va-naroo-chant, des int soo-mank un ish nim ne-ma-ve-je-ach-an. Amen.

The Apostles Creed

     Nir-oo-nang-ar-oo-goosh-oon-gin dam Appua Nan-a-soo-u-gaint. Sek-ke dam-u-vant Han-nip-a des sog-op-a.
     Des nu suk nang-ar-oo-goosh-oon-gin Dzees Crist oombu-ned-oo-a dam Him-bu-chant. Suk niv-e-ma-id de-oo-or-a-chant Mar-e-maid. Dam Appua Soo-ap-a Sandin ook a du-moon-jea-chan. Soo va Pontus Pilat dan deg-ooan-e-vi-pa dam-bek-up. Soo-va-ooe ooar-oos-ag-ar-im oor-ao-os-an soo-maid soo-roo-ooe de-en. Soo-va-ooe oo-rig-in. Soo-roo-ooe do gan-e-chant din-gar dam-u-rog-ant- me-en. Soo-roo-ooe soo va ooa hav-itc soo-av-e-dain, Soo-roo ooe soo-và doo-goop doin dam Appua-ooag-ant. Soo-roo-ooe e-ge-je dam Appua de-vid-je mankooa gat Nan-a-soo-u-gan din. Soo-roo ooe sook-ooid sog-o-bant-oo ooi-hoon-doo dam-e div-e hon-doo na-mek-oos da-e-in-gan des dang-o-ip-a.    
     Nir oo-nang ar-oo-goosh-oon-gin dam Appua Soo-ap-à Sant. Des nu-mu mu-na dam Appua Andooa nan-e-shoon-de-hi-gin e. Des hin-an-dide nim-e ig-ooe-gan nim e dan-goitc-hoo-e-gun-doo-e nim Appua An-doo-a um bum. Des dam nan-im-u-a go-ip-a eo-re-doo-e. Des nim soo-va-ooe div-id-je e ing-a-hoon doo bin-ag-ooe div-id-je ka de-a-ooi. Amen.

     Dam Him-be-chant-dint im-i-eoon-doo.
     Des u soo-ap-a mi-eoon-doo.
     Meikoo dam nan-e-shoon-de-hi-dooe.
     Nim Him-be-chant-dint nim shoon-di.
     Des nim-e ma-gooid-joon-ich.
     Nim Appua nim-um-be san nim-e-eig-ooik.
     Ka-din o nim Soo-ap-a Nan-a-soo-u-ga-int nim-e e-a-yng-ynt.
     Nim Appua un-int nan-a-soo-u-gaint, nim um-be-heed un oiok sum-ban-ar-oo-chant, des int un oiok ni-us-oo-ain sum-ban-ar-oo-chant. Ka dadtz hin un ne-ooadze-dig-ink-e-chant. Nim um be-heed un san nim-e-eig-ooink san-dim Es-oo-ap-à e-soo-a-kim nim-u-ooe soo-va div-idje moats u soo-ang-hi des nim soova-ooe Sant un Nan-e nip-an-an-i soo-roon-a Dezees Crist nim Him-be-chan-din-doo-na. Amen.
     Dam Appua oos sik-a-reg-ooats des sim-a e-eg-ooin.

Ten Commandments

     1. Nir-ish u Appua u Him-bu-chant Un-in-demas ka and-a-hish Appu-va-e-ooi ne-i-dag.
     Nim Him-be-chan dint nim shoon-di des nim-e dim-a-sa-moo-e soo-va nim-oo-e sik nang-a-he-chi.
     2. Ka da-no soo-at han-id, hin-a-no dam-u-vant des dam-sog-o-vant des ba-gar dam sog o-roog-ant. Ka oo-na-ne-shoon-de-hing-int ka des oo-nang-ar-e-ant nir-ish u Appua u him-bu-chant des u ges-oo-an ka nash-oo-ad-see-ooat un dir-ait un ges-oo-ei-put didtc mu-roo. Ne-a-vin soo-re soon-de-hi-doo Nea moats soo-ang-un-de des na reg-ooa-gan nang-a-he-chande.
     Nim Him-be-chan dint nim shoon-di des nim-e dim-a-sa-moo-e soo-va nim-oo-e sik nang-a-he-chi.
     3. Ka da-no mum Appua mum Nu-min-ip a nan-e soo-an ne-gooint.
     Nim Him-be-chan dint nim shoon-di des nim-e dim-a-sa-moo-e soo-va nim-oo-e sik nang-a-he-chi.
     4. Oo-nas-oon-dam-a-chant nan-e-shoon-de-hi dab oo-tsa-ni-chant nav-an dab-e ne-shin-dag-ar nar-e-re-i-chi oos-un-sa dad-soo-it dav-e-gar gun-e-ma-oohi dab-e im Nu-mu-nip-a bum gun-oo-ma-oohi-chap bum-un-ga un dir-i-oohi-eon-do. Na-vain dav-e nish-oots dam Appua dam-u-vant des dam sog-op-a han-ip, des be-a-va des oit va-gar, soo-roo-ooe seem dad-soo-ooe dav-e gar-im gun-oo-ma-ooi oos soo-roo-ooe soo-mank oo-tsa-ni.
     Nim Him-be-chan dint nim shoon-di des nim-e dim-a-sa-moo-e soo-va nim-oo-e sik nang-a-he-chi.
     5. Mo-ad-sit U Appua so-angk des um-be-a-yn soo-va-ooe u-e mea-goo-ond-o se-va dam Appua ym sog-o-nang-ip-u-fa.
     Nim Him-be-chan dint nim shoon-di des nim-e dim-a-sa-moo-e soo-va nim-oo-e sik nang-a-he-chi.
     6. Ka din num-e bek-ar.
     Nim Him-be-chan dint nim shoon-di des nim-e dim-a-sa-moo-e soo-va nim-oo-e sik nang-a-he-chi.
     7. Ka din-o and-ar-in goo-u mank u-mas-oo-naint des ooipa ka din-o and-ar-in goom-appu-mank u-mas-oo-naint.
     Nim Him-be-chan dint nim shoon-di des nim-e dim-a-sa-moo-e soo-va nim-oo-e sik nang-a-he-chi.
     8. Ka din-o dir-ig-ar.
     Nim Him-be-chan dint nim shoon-di des nim-e dim-a-sa-moo-e soo-va nim-oo-e sik nang-a-he-chi.
     9. Ka din-o and-ar nu-me ish-an-id.
     Nim Him-be-chan dint nim shoon-di des nim-e dim-a-sa-moo-e soo-va nim-oo-e sik nang-a-he-chi.
     10. Ka din-o and-ar-in num un-gan-e-mank oo-nish-eoo-nint. Ka-din-o and-ar-in goou-mank num-e nish-eoo-nint. Ka-non-des o-he-he-mank oo-nish-eoo-nint.
     Nim Him-be-chan dint nim shoon-di des nim-e dim-a-sa-moo-e soo-va nim-oo-e sik nang-a-he-chi.

     Des no oon-angach dam Him-be-chan-din Dzees Crist deg-ooa-gan.
     Nond-im moats oo-soo-ang dam Him-be-chant U Appua oiok um beheem des oiok um soo-ap-u desk oiok um dis-oo-an-sip-u.
     Ish-int de-vidj hi-a-gun-a oon deg-ooe-gan nan-a-soo-a-gant, des yn binag oon-deg ooap sim-a ooat-is.
     Nond moats un gag-an-e-voo-e soo-ank na-oo-ash. Sid-e oo-ur ish oo-ad-oo dam Appua deg-ooe-gan-e-oo nan-a-soo-ag-an-din.
     Mei-koo dam nan-e-shoon-de-hi-doo-e.
     Oi-or-int dim-a-van nim Him-be-chant. Nim Appua div-id-je ka-dea-ooat. Nim un nan-e-ja-oohi sa-ant nime muk soo-va yn-oo-e nime ma-goo-id-joon-ich-an-doo-e soo-roon-a dam Him-be-chan-din-doo-na des dam-e Ma-gooid-joon-ipu-chan-din-doo-na Dzees Crist-doo-na. Amen.
     Nim Appua oiok Nu-mu-nip nim un nan-e-shoon-de-hi-gin oi-id-e sar num u soom-ban-ar-oo-chi.
     Oi-id-ir-ar u nan-e-shoon-de-hi-ge-ge, des-unt um-e nan-e-shoon-de-hi-gin nid-se-gar-id soon-de-hi, des-unt ka-sant-nes-oon-gant sa-ma-nes-oon-gan, soo-roo-na Dzees Crist-doo-nah.
     Na-soo-ag-an-din Appua num-e div-id-je shoon-de-hint nim und-ish un dir-id-e nash-oon-dit-an-de nim-e u nip-an-an-i see-mank hin-a oiok dza-u-mu-ga-munk. Nim-e u nip-an-an-i nim u neoo-an-ip-munk. Nim-e u nip-an-an-i nim-e u mas-oo-av-id-i-cha-munk. Nim-e u nip-an-an-i oikok hin nim-e u oot-cha-munk sik-ich oi-or ung-oop-an-goo-nimmunts u nip-an-an-i nim-e mah goo-id-joon-nip u-mank soo-ma min-e u Ma-goo-id-joon nip-u Dzees Crist des nim-e u nan-e-ja-oohi se-oo-at nim-e muk soo-va nim-e-oo-e U div-id-je nip-an-an-i-hoon-doo ka ka-de-nadz nim-e dim-be-man-dag non-de nim-e na-kum non-de nim-e u mum-u-chatoo na-gant, nim-e no-ooe div-vidj sooa-nag-i um-i soo-roon-a Dzees Crist nim Him-be-chan-din-doo-na. Amen.
     Dim-a-van Appua U Soo-ap-ur Nan-a-soo-ag-an nim-e dza-o-gin. Nim e-ooe u nan-e-shoon-de-hi gin Sim-a u eig-ooe-pu-vie no-ooidj-ooad non-dua bait nam-a-dam-idj un oore nan-e-shoon de-hi-gink un oore oonang-ach. Nim-e nang-ach-ant nim Him-be-chant nim u nam-e-shoon de-hain. Ig-idj-id un deg-ooa-gan nim sum-ban-ar-oo-roo des nim bin-ang nim-e van-din-gar-ink div-id-je eing-a-hi. Amen.
     Non-zar dam Appua u soon-de-hain-oo-e. Non-zar dam Appua Soo-ap na-soo-ag-an im-i-eoo-e soo-roo-na dam e Mah-gooidj-oo-ni-gant Dzees Crist-doo-na. Amen.