The first known translations of the Bible into the Lithuanian language appeared in the middle of the 16th century following the spread of the Protestant Reformation.
The first book in Lithuanian, Simple Words of Catechism by Martynas Mažvydas, published in 1547, contained the Ten Commandments, two psalms, and short excerpts from the New Testament.
This translation was prepared by Józef Arnulf Giedroyć [pl], Bishop of Samogitia, but did not include the customary explanations.
The full bible, translated by Archbishop Juozapas Skvireckas from the Vulgate, was published in six volumes in 1911–1937 by the Society of Saint Casimir and Saliamonas Banaitis in Kaunas.
In 1990–1995, a new translation of the full Old Testament was prepared by Antanas Rubšys [lt] who was awarded the Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Arts for the efforts.