Most students of Mormonism know that Joseph Smith claimed to have the ability to translate ancient documents, specifically to produce the Book of Mormon and portions of both the Pearl of Great Price and the Doctrine and Covenants (Section 7 in particular.) A deeper investigation into Mormon history shows that Joseph Smith also tried to “translate” some hoax tablets called the Kinderhook Plates.
Many do not know, however, that Joseph Smith claimed he could translate a psalter (ancient book of the Psalms) written in Greek — except he said they were actually a dictionary of Egyptian hieroglyphics. Read several accounts of this 1842 incident here (including an illustration from the book written by the man who presented the Greek psalter to Joseph Smith in order to show he could not translate.)
For more information, see The Mormon Mirage 3rd Edition: A Former Member Looks at the Mormon Church Today(Zondervan, 2009). Also available as an audiobook and as an expanded-text E-book for Nook, Kindle and other reading devices.
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Please provide evidence proving Joseph made any attempt to translate the Kinderhook plates.
There is no proof whatsoever. There are two journal entries from two individuals who were likely relying on rumors of the day.
The plates were created for the very purpose of proving Joseph was a false prophet. Interesting that those who actually created the plates for that purpose never, ever claimed success in showing Joseph was false. In other words, the forgers never spoke much about the whole deal until asked decades later. And then, they never mentioned anything about Joseph attempting to translate them.
And no translation was ever produced.
And Joseph didn't make any attempt to buy the plates like he did with the mummies and scrolls relating to the Book of Abraham.
It is all empty claims from critics. You cannot back up such claims with anything other than heresay.
I'm happy to address your comment. First of all, most all damning evidence against Joseph Smith's supposed abilities to translate do not come in a first-person admission of failure, not surprisingly. Secondly, the accounts of him translating do not come only from critics -- his own personal secretary related the incident. Later, official publications of the LDS Church (a church, remember, that came into existence to use direct revelation to correct religious errors) repeated the secretary William Clayton's assertions. Read more here.
But thirdly, and most important, in fact the point of the post to which you are responding is this one glaring fact: There is no evidence whatsoever that Joseph Smith could translate any ancient document that he claimed he could -- either by natural means (having thoroughly learned a language) nor by supernatural means.