At least two languages already

But it is preparing the Scriptures for those who are comparatively enlightened; who as a nation have access to them in at least two languages already, though neither of them generally understood, and the learned and influential of whom have in many cases become great pedants in criticism, and captious beyond endurance,— being much more inclined to compare for the sake of finding discrepancies than to read with a prayerful desire to understand the meaning, and be guided into all truth.

But as nearly all can read the Armeno-Turkish, and very many thousands among them can read nothing else, the translation of the Bible into this language is imperiously demanded. It was strongly urged upon me eighteen years ago by the Rev. Pliny Fisk, one of the first missionaries of the Board to Palestine. I have had my eye upon it ever since; Providence has furnished me with the means by raising up instruments, and I have spared no pains or labor to have it as perfect as possible, otherwise I might have completed it long ago.

Tasted this Bread of Heaven

In some instances I have spent more time on the examination of a single passage than I should have felt justified in employing on a whole chapter, had I been throwing it out upon a starving population, who had never yet tasted this Bread of Heaven. It is not a version, or a revision of a former translation, for no such ever existed. The whole has been taken fresh from the Hebrew. And may it in some humble way prove to be like the “pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” May hundreds of thousands of the perishing come and recline on its banks, and drink, and live for ever!

One adventitious advantage which may be hoped from this translation is, that it will render it less difficult at some future time to bring back their ancient Armenian Scriptures to the original Hebrew, from which they have more or less widely departed. It is preparing the way for this, inasmuch as it makes them familiar with a translation professedly of this character.