A RETIRED solicitor says he is "elated" after finishing a 17-year project to translate the full Bible into Doric - the first time the entire text has ever been published in Scots or any of its dialects.
Born into a Doric-speaking farming family in Inverkeithny, Banffshire, Gordon M Hay explained that his marathon translation began in 2006.
He finished the New Testament in 2012 "when I had a moment spare" in between working, but the Old Testament, which he has just completed, is approximately three times longer.
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The final Old Testament translation is 758 pages long and has over 570,000 words.
"There used to be a biannual service taken in Doric in Buchan, but, Rev Charles Birnie, the minister who used to translate it sadly died," he said.
Hay was then approached to help and the project went from there.
Speaking about why Doric sounds so distinctive, Hay explained that it has elements from other European languages including French, and German from the links in the North East to trade with the Hanseatic League.
"To some extent, it's Anglo-Saxon still in use in the North East.
!Until about 150 years ago when proper roads were built the North East was very cut off from the rest of the country," he added.
The launch party on Friday 30 June is free to attend and will take place at Longside Parish Church in Aberdeenshire at 7.30pm. To purchase a copy, email Gordon Hay directly at gordonmhay@outlook.com.
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Below is an extract from the Doric bible.
ECCLESIASTES 3:1-11
Aathin his it's sizzon, an for ilka thing ye dee aneth e hivvens there's a time:
2A time tae be born, an a time tae dee; a time tae shaav, an a time tae hairst; 3a time tae dee awa wi, an a time tae mak aa better; a time tae pu doon, an a time tae bigg up; 4a time tae greet, an a time tae lauch; a time tae moorn an a time tae dance; 5a time tae scatter steens, an a time tae gaither them up; a time tae gie a bosie, an a time tae haud back fae gien a bosie; 6a time tae sikk, an a time tae tine; a time tae haud on tae things, an a time tae fling awa; 7a time tae rive, an a time tae sort; a time tae be quait, an a time tae spik oot; 8a time tae loo, an a time tae hate; a time for waar, an a time for peace. 9Fit gweed dis e warker get fae aa his trachles?
10A've seen e birn att God his gien fowk tae keep them thrang.
11He's made aathin bonnie in it's time. He's gien fowk e sense o fit's gaen afore an fit's tae come, bit naebody can unnerstan God's wark fae e yokin till e hinnerein.
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