Basically, there are three reasons why we go through so many stages and checks before we publish Scripture. We want the translation to be:

• Accurate, in that it correctly translates the original meaning
• Clear, in that it is easy to understand
• Natural, in that it is the accepted way of speaking the Lugungu language

To achieve all three requires a large effort in testing and checking. We always use unchurched Lugungu speakers to check our work. Sometimes some serious errors are uncovered — often they can be funny in retrospect.

For example, in Luke 1:5, before testing, the translation read: Herodi hayaabbereeri mukama wa Buyudaaya, haalingiho nyakatagara gibeetengi Zaakaaliya... Which we thought meant: When Herod was governor of Judea, there was a priest who was called Zechariah... however, the tester understood it as: When Herod was governor of Judea, there was a stubborn woman who was called Zechariah... We soon realised that the word nyakatagara was not a good choice! So, we changed the work to mulaami wa Ruhanga, which literally means 'priest of God'. Thanks to the checking process, we avoided an embarrassing mistake.