Follow the links below to find a selection of message illustrations for the first reading, psalm or Song of Songs

• Genesis 24:37 (scroll down to see the correct record): Some languages translate "swear" very straight-forward as “God sees me, I tell the truth to you,” others as “eat an oath” or “drink an oath.” See all of them in the respective record.
• Genesis 24:45: Some languages translate have a formal and and informal way of addressing someone, including Spanish. Only one Spanish Bible translation uses that distinction and does it very rarely. Here, the formal pronoun usted, is used in the conversation with Rebekah. And in Japanese she is addressed with the honorary -san suffix (Ribeka-san). The servant works hard to win her and her family's favor.
• Genesis 24:47: In Newari (Nepal), Rebekah wears an ear ring rather than a nose ring. In that culture wearing nose rings is associated with being a slave.
• Genesis 24:59 (60): In many languages there is no generic word for brother or sister. In Mandarin Chinese, for instance, "sister Rebekah" is "younger sister Rebekah."
• Genesis 24:65: Translation of that complete verse in Kankanaey (Philippines): "She asked for information from the slave, 'Who is that man who is approaching to meet-us?' 'The child of my master,' he said answering. Therefore Rebekah covered her face with a head-cloth, because that was the custom of young-ladies there."
• Genesis 24:67 "Comforted” is translated in Newari (Nepal) as “grief was lost.”

• Psalm 45:14: In Gbaya (Nigeria) the idea in of the princess being led into the kingʼs palace in clothing of many colors would have meant she was a prostitute. So here the clothing becomes very white, emphasized with a class of words that appeals to emotions of the reader or listener.

• Song of Songs 2:12: “Turtledove” is translated in Pijin (Solomon Islands) with the onomatopoeia kurrukurru and in Matumbi (Tanzania) as ngunda, a kind of dove that specifically has the reputation to be monogamous.

Follow the links below to find a selection of message illustrations for the second reading

• Romans 7:15: Complete verse in Uma (Indonesia): “I don’t understand the use of this character of mine. The good behavior that I want to do, I don’t end up doing. Behavior that I hate, that’s what I end up doing!”
• Romans 7:16 (19, 23): "Law" is translated in Noongar (Australia) with a capitalized form of the term for “words” (Warrinya)
• Romans 7:16: Complete verse in Western Bukidnon Manobo (Philippines): “And if I break the Law, but I don’t want to break it, this not wanting to break it is a sign that in my thinking the Law is good.”
• Romans 7:17 (19, 23): "Sin" is translated as “miss the mark” in Sandawe (Tanzania), which is exactly the literal meaning of the Greek hamartanō. Many other translations of "sin" as well.
• Romans 7:18 (20): "Nothing good dwells within me" is translated as “my wanting-to-sin-life is not the least bit good” in North Alaskan Inupiatun and as “there is no good thing inside my head-heart” in Yatzachi Zapotec (Mexico).
• Romans 7:21 Complete verse in Tenango Otomi (Mexico): “Thus is what happened to me. When I wanted to do good, then it seemed that only the evil which came to my heart is what I did.”
• Romans 7:24 "Wretched man that I am!" is translated in Chitonga (Zambia) as “Mercy me, I am my own younger brother [i.e., I have no one to look to for help in this situation].”

Follow the links below to find a selection of message illustrations for the Gospel

• Matthew 11:17: The "pipes" signify music at a wedding which makes many languages use other instruments to communicate the same idea: Chichewa (Malawi) translates it as “we played the wedding drum for you,” Yakan and Kankanaey use “gongs,” and in Tagbanwa (all three Philippines) “stringed-instruments” is used (see flute).
• Matthew 11:18: "John came neither eating nor drinking" -- in Yalunka (Guinea) this statement had to be complemented with "because he was fasting all the time" to alleviate fears of a demonic possession of John.
• Matthew 11:18: "John (the Baptist)" -- see the various ways that sign language communities from around the world signify John -- each with the most important trait in their minds but surprisingly different from each other.
• Matthew 11:19: "Glutton" is “one who has just stomach” in Navajo and a "sinner" is “a person with a bad stomach” in Q’anjob’al (Guatemala).
• Matthew 11:25: "You have hidden these things from the wise" is translated in Huixtán Tzotzil (Mexico) as “you have hidden these things from those who mistakenly think they are wise.”
• Matthew 11:25 (26): In Hindi, a differentiation is made between the way that the different persons of the Trinity are addressed by a regular person or by another person of the Trinity. When Jesus addresses God the Father or when God the Father addresses Jesus, a familiar form of address is used, unlike the way that any of them would be addressed with a honorific form by anyone else. See in a different record how Japanese makes a difference between the way that Jesus addresses the Father at Father (address for God).
• Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens" is translated in Bambam (Indonesia) as “Come-here all of you who are tired and who carry a heavy load of traditions on their head related-to religion.”
• Matthew 11:29: “I am gentle and humble in heart” is translated in the Moba (Sierra Leone) as “I am the owner of a warming heart and I humble myself.”
• Matthew 11:30: See the various translations of "yoke."