The Australian Bible Society has translated the Old and New Testaments into mobile phone text language in an attempt to keep the younger generation in touch with the bible.

The SMS version begins: "In da Bginnin God cre8d da heavens & da earth," and has 31,173 verses in all. The translation was written by the son of the Australian Bible Society's leader, Michael Rodriguez.

"It's a logical step," Rodriguez told French news agency AFP. "Our aim is to get the Bible out there among the people and this is a very effective way of doing it."

This is not the first time that the bible has been translated into text messages. In 2002 Simon Jenkins, editor of Christian webzine Ship-of-fools, wrote a version in which the Ten Commandments were rendered:

"God: "Im No.1. No pix, plz. Uz my name nicely. Day7=holy. Take care of mum'n'dad. Don't kill, scrU round, steal or lie. Keep yr hands (&eyz) off wot isnt yrs."