The Institute for Bible Translation Russia/CIS is a non-profit organization financed through contributions from individuals, sponsoring organizations and foundations. By clicking on the "Contribute" button in the main menu, you can easily make a one-time or regular (monthly) donation, that will support our Bible translation projects.
In 2025 IBT celebrates the 30th anniversary of its work in Russia. The anniversary celebration was held as part of an international conference called "Linguistic Forum 2025: Bible Translation as a Means of Language Preservation and Development. Traditions and New Approaches," organized by IBT and the Institute of Linguistics (RAS). Read more
genesis-in-the-abaza-language
The Institute for Bible Translation (IBT) has released a new edition — the book of Genesis in the Abaza language of the NW Caucasus. The edition was published as a diglot with a parallel Russian text, as well as maps. The print run was 300 copies.
Genesis is the first book of the Old Testament and the opening book of the biblical canon. It presents key narratives of fundamental importance to all Abrahamic religions: the creation of the world, the story of Adam and Eve, the account of Noah and the great flood, the life of Abraham and his willingness to sacrifice his son, the stories of Sodom and Gomorrah, Joseph and his brothers, and others...
summer-2026-newsletter
Ophelia, a team member in IBT’s Lezgi Scripture translation project, recently visited the IBT office in Moscow with her new friend Makhluga, who currently lives in Moscow but grew up in the same village as Ophelia in Azerbaijan. They first became acquainted with each other only three years ago, and Makhluga learned from Ophelia about the translation of the Bible into the Lezgi language.
Makhluga recalled, "This was my first time hearing that something was being translated into the Lezgi language! I was incredibly surprised. Ophelia gave me the Injil (New Testament) in Lezgi. And when IBT produced an audio recording of the Psalms, she sent me Psalm 39 so that I could listen and check how clear the text was...
in-memory-of-marianne-beerle-moor
With immeasurable sorrow, the Institute for Bible Translation announces that on May 27, 2026, Dr. Marianne Beerle-Moor passed away at the age of 82 following an accident in Zürich. Marianne was a linguist who studied the cultures and languages of the Caucasus (specializing in the Lezgi language) and a biblical scholar. Her work made an invaluable contribution to Bible translation into the many languages of Russia and the surrounding countries...
ruth-and-jonah-in-kaitag
IBT has published the books of Ruth and Jonah in the Kaitag language of Dagestan. These editions continue a series of translations produced via the oral translation method in Tsudakhar and Agul. Kaitag belongs to the Dargin group of the Nakh-Daghestanian language family. It has an estimated 33,000 to 40,000 speakers. The language is primarily used in the Kaitag, Derbent, and Kayakent districts of Dagestan, as well as in other regions of Russia and abroad (notably in Turkey)...
genesis-in-the-lak-language
The Institute for Bible Translation (IBT) has released the first-ever translation of the book of Genesis in the Lak language. This is the first book of the Old Testament and the Pentateuch (Tawrat)and contains key narratives common to all three Abrahamic religions: the creation of the world, the story of Adam and Eve, the account of Noah and the great flood, the lives of the Patriarchs, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and others.