²² But if we stay tight wit Godʼs Spirit, he give us plenny love an aloha fo everybody. He make us guys stay good inside. He make our hearts rest inside. He help us wait fo da odda guy an stay cool. He help us tink good bout da odda peopo, an like do good kine stuff fo dem. He help us do wat we promise. ²³ He help us make nice to peopo an do um wit good kine heart. He help us stay in charge a ourself. No mo rules dat say you no can do all dat kine stuff. 

Galatians 5:22-23

Dear God, I had never heard of this Bible translation before last night. How interesting. First, I never knew there was this English-based creole language spoken in Hawaii. Then, obviously, I never knew there was a Bible done for those who speak it. How marvelous! I would have thought that they would just read a traditional American English (as opposed to British, Australian, South African, etc.) version, but this is a little more like reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. I can read it, but it takes me a little longer to roll through the pronunciations and then interpret them as intended.

So one of the first things I did when I heard about it was go to some of my favorite Bible passages. Namely, Acts 20:24 and Galatians 5:22-23. The way it stated Galatians really touched me. I found that it’s incredibly inefficient when compared with the other translations. The traditional English translations use approximately 30 words to describe the fruits of the Spirit while the Hawaiian Pidgin uses 100. But the descriptiveness of “love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control” are lovely.

• Love – Plenny love an aloha to everybody.
• Joy – Stay good inside
• Peace – Hearts rest inside
• Patience – Wait fo da odda guy an stay cool
• Kindness – Tink good bout da odda person
• Goodness – Like do good kine stuff fo dem
• Faithfulness – Do what we promise
• Gentleness – Make nice to peopo an do um wit good kine heart
• Self-Control – Stay in charge of ourself

I love it.

Father, there are so many ways to unlock the depths of what you want me to know. Thank you for the young man who introduced me to this translation last night. Thank you for the faith you have put in him and what you are doing for his father and family through him. He is remarkable. Be with him. Strengthen him. Protect him. I know he will struggle. I know he will suffer. We all do. Hold him close and show him your path for him. And show me your path for me as well.

I offer this to you in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen