diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index b8ae706..405ffb2 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -69,3 +69,20 @@ All use `CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS` for safe coexistence with existing Proclaim
 ## Build
 
 Run `php build/build.php` to create the distributable `pkg_cwmscripture-{version}.zip`. The build script pulls the library from the submodule directory. Tests live in the `lib_cwmscripture` repo.
+
+### Package scriptfile
+
+`build/script.install.php` is the package's install script (wired via `<scriptfile>`
+in `build/pkg_cwmscripture.xml` and `package.installer` in `cwm-build.config.json`).
+
+Its one job is to blank `JPATH_LIBRARIES/cwmscripture/sql/uninstall.mysql.utf8.sql`
+in `preflight()`, before the library child installs. lib_cwmscripture ≤ 1.1.4
+declared `<uninstall><sql>` pointing at `DROP TABLE` statements, and Joomla's
+`LibraryAdapter` uninstalls the installed library on every update — so those DROPs
+ran on upgrades and wiped every locally downloaded Bible translation. The library
+no longer declares uninstall SQL, but Joomla reads the *installed* manifest and SQL
+file during that uninstall, so only a package-level preflight can save an existing
+site on the transition upgrade.
+
+Bump the nested `libraries/lib_cwmscripture` submodule to a version ≥ the fix, or
+this package keeps reinstalling the destructive manifest on disk.
diff --git a/build/pkg_cwmscripture.xml b/build/pkg_cwmscripture.xml
index e18f153..bfc3bf4 100644
--- a/build/pkg_cwmscripture.xml
+++ b/build/pkg_cwmscripture.xml
@@ -11,6 +11,16 @@
     <version>1.1.5</version>
     <description>CWM Scripture package: Bible provider library, content plugin for automatic scripture linking, and task plugin for deferred background scripture work.</description>
 
+    <scriptfile>script.install.php</scriptfile>
+
+    <!--
+        Children may not be uninstalled individually. lib_cwmscripture is a
+        dependency of the plugins shipped here (and of com_proclaim), so pulling
+        it out on its own leaves them calling classes that no longer exist.
+        Matches pkg_proclaim.xml.
+    -->
+    <blockChildUninstall>true</blockChildUninstall>
+
     <changelogurl>https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Joomla-Bible-Study/CWMScriptureLinks/main/build/cwmscripture-changelog.xml</changelogurl>
 
     <updateservers>
@@ -22,5 +32,6 @@
         <file type="library" id="cwmscripture">lib_cwmscripture.zip</file>
         <file type="plugin" group="content" id="scripturelinks">plg_content_scripturelinks.zip</file>
         <file type="plugin" group="task" id="cwmscripture">plg_task_cwmscripture.zip</file>
+        <file type="plugin" group="system" id="cwmscripture">plg_system_cwmscripture.zip</file>
     </files>
 </extension>
diff --git a/build/script.install.php b/build/script.install.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ca0025
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build/script.install.php
@@ -0,0 +1,304 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * Package installer script for pkg_cwmscripture.
+ *
+ * @package    CWM.ScriptureLinks
+ * @copyright  (C) 2026 CWM Team All rights reserved
+ * @license    GNU General Public License version 2 or later; see LICENSE.txt
+ * @since      __DEPLOY_VERSION__
+ */
+
+// phpcs:disable PSR1.Files.SideEffects
+\defined('_JEXEC') or die;
+// phpcs:enable PSR1.Files.SideEffects
+
+use CWM\Library\Scripture\Installer\ConsumerRegistry;
+use Joomla\CMS\Factory;
+use Joomla\CMS\Installer\InstallerAdapter;
+use Joomla\CMS\Installer\InstallerScriptInterface;
+use Joomla\CMS\Log\Log;
+use Joomla\Database\DatabaseInterface;
+
+/**
+ * Returns an anonymous class implementing InstallerScriptInterface.
+ *
+ * Joomla 5+ expects the script file to return an InstallerScriptInterface
+ * instance directly (not define a named class).
+ *
+ * @since  __DEPLOY_VERSION__
+ */
+return new class () implements InstallerScriptInterface {
+    /**
+     * Runs before the bundled extensions install.
+     *
+     * @param   string            $type     Install type (install, update, discover_install)
+     * @param   InstallerAdapter  $adapter  The installer adapter
+     *
+     * @return  bool  True to continue, false to abort
+     *
+     * @since  __DEPLOY_VERSION__
+     */
+    public function preflight(string $type, InstallerAdapter $adapter): bool
+    {
+        // Must happen before the child extensions install — see the method docblock.
+        $this->disarmLegacyScriptureUninstallSql();
+
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Runs after install/update completes.
+     *
+     * @param   string            $type     Install type (install, update, discover_install)
+     * @param   InstallerAdapter  $adapter  The installer adapter
+     *
+     * @return  bool
+     *
+     * @since  __DEPLOY_VERSION__
+     */
+    public function postflight(string $type, InstallerAdapter $adapter): bool
+    {
+        // The protection plugin is useless disabled, and Joomla installs plugins
+        // disabled by default — see the method docblock.
+        $this->enablePlugin('cwmscripture', 'system');
+
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Enable a bundled plugin.
+     *
+     * Joomla installs plugins disabled, which is wrong for
+     * plg_system_cwmscripture: its whole job is to blank the scripture library's
+     * legacy uninstall SQL before an admin runs a library-only update, and a
+     * disabled plugin never fires. Leaving it to the administrator would mean the
+     * protection is off exactly on the sites that have not been touched recently
+     * — the ones most likely to still be on a destructive 1.1.4 library.
+     *
+     * Only flips a plugin that is currently disabled, so an administrator who
+     * deliberately turned it off is not overridden on the next update.
+     *
+     * @param   string  $element  Plugin element
+     * @param   string  $group    Plugin group
+     *
+     * @return  void
+     *
+     * @since  __DEPLOY_VERSION__
+     */
+    private function enablePlugin(string $element, string $group): void
+    {
+        try {
+            $db    = Factory::getContainer()->get(DatabaseInterface::class);
+            $query = $db->getQuery(true)
+                ->update($db->quoteName('#__extensions'))
+                ->set($db->quoteName('enabled') . ' = 1')
+                ->where($db->quoteName('type') . ' = ' . $db->quote('plugin'))
+                ->where($db->quoteName('element') . ' = ' . $db->quote($element))
+                ->where($db->quoteName('folder') . ' = ' . $db->quote($group))
+                ->where($db->quoteName('enabled') . ' = 0');
+            $db->setQuery($query);
+            $db->execute();
+        } catch (\Throwable $e) {
+            Log::add(
+                'pkg_cwmscripture: could not enable plg_' . $group . '_' . $element . ' — ' . $e->getMessage(),
+                Log::WARNING,
+                'jerror'
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Runs on install.
+     *
+     * @param   InstallerAdapter  $adapter  The installer adapter
+     *
+     * @return  bool
+     *
+     * @since  __DEPLOY_VERSION__
+     */
+    public function install(InstallerAdapter $adapter): bool
+    {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Runs on update.
+     *
+     * @param   InstallerAdapter  $adapter  The installer adapter
+     *
+     * @return  bool
+     *
+     * @since  __DEPLOY_VERSION__
+     */
+    public function update(InstallerAdapter $adapter): bool
+    {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Runs on uninstall.
+     *
+     * @param   InstallerAdapter  $adapter  The installer adapter
+     *
+     * @return  bool
+     *
+     * @since  __DEPLOY_VERSION__
+     */
+    public function uninstall(InstallerAdapter $adapter): bool
+    {
+        $this->dropScriptureTablesIfLastConsumer();
+
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Remove the shared scripture tables when this package is the last consumer.
+     *
+     * The library deliberately will not do this itself during a package removal:
+     * PackageAdapter::removeExtensionFiles() uninstalls each child with
+     * setPackageUninstall(true), and lib_cwmscripture treats that flag as "an
+     * upgrade cycle may be in progress, keep the data". Correct for the library,
+     * but it means nothing cleans up when the whole package genuinely goes away.
+     *
+     * Doing it here is safe because PackageAdapter does NOT uninstall-then-install
+     * on update — checkExtensionInFilesystem() only sets the route — so a package
+     * manifest script's uninstall() runs on genuine removal and never on upgrade.
+     * It also runs before removeExtensionFiles(), so the children are still
+     * present and the drop happens exactly once.
+     *
+     * The "is anything else using it" question is delegated to the library's
+     * ConsumerRegistry rather than answered with a hardcoded list. Joomla tracks
+     * no library dependencies, so a third-party extension is invisible unless it
+     * registered itself; asking the registry means such a consumer is seen and
+     * its data left alone, instead of being silently dropped.
+     *
+     * @return  void
+     *
+     * @since  __DEPLOY_VERSION__
+     */
+    private function dropScriptureTablesIfLastConsumer(): void
+    {
+        try {
+            $registry = JPATH_LIBRARIES . '/cwmscripture/src/Installer/ConsumerRegistry.php';
+
+            if (!class_exists(ConsumerRegistry::class) && is_file($registry)) {
+                require_once $registry;
+            }
+
+            if (!class_exists(ConsumerRegistry::class)) {
+                Log::add(
+                    'pkg_cwmscripture: ConsumerRegistry unavailable — keeping the scripture tables.',
+                    Log::WARNING,
+                    'jerror'
+                );
+
+                return;
+            }
+
+            // Everything this package removes; anything left is someone else's.
+            $remaining = ConsumerRegistry::installedExcluding([
+                ['element' => 'scripturelinks', 'type' => 'plugin', 'folder' => 'content'],
+                ['element' => 'cwmscripture',   'type' => 'plugin', 'folder' => 'task'],
+            ]);
+
+            if ($remaining !== []) {
+                Log::add(
+                    'pkg_cwmscripture: scripture tables still used by ' . implode(', ', $remaining) . ' — keeping them.',
+                    Log::INFO,
+                    'jerror'
+                );
+
+                return;
+            }
+
+            $db = Factory::getContainer()->get(DatabaseInterface::class);
+
+            foreach (['#__bsms_scripture_consumers', '#__bsms_scripture_cache', '#__bsms_bible_verses', '#__bsms_bible_translations'] as $table) {
+                $db->setQuery('DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ' . $db->quoteName($table));
+                $db->execute();
+            }
+
+            Log::add(
+                'pkg_cwmscripture: removed the scripture tables (last consumer uninstalled).',
+                Log::INFO,
+                'jerror'
+            );
+        } catch (\Throwable $e) {
+            Log::add(
+                'pkg_cwmscripture: scripture table cleanup skipped — ' . $e->getMessage(),
+                Log::WARNING,
+                'jerror'
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Stop the installed scripture library from dropping its own tables.
+     *
+     * lib_cwmscripture up to 1.1.4 shipped an <uninstall><sql> block pointing at
+     * DROP TABLE statements. Joomla's LibraryAdapter uninstalls the installed
+     * library before writing the new one (checkExtensionInFilesystem() calls
+     * uninstall()), so that SQL ran on every UPDATE — taking #__bsms_bible_verses
+     * and #__bsms_bible_translations with it. Every locally downloaded
+     * translation disappeared and the Local Translations panel came back empty.
+     *
+     * The library no longer declares uninstall SQL, but that only helps the
+     * upgrade *after* this one: during this install Joomla reads the manifest and
+     * the SQL file already sitting in JPATH_LIBRARIES — the old, destructive
+     * ones. Installer::parseSQLFiles() resolves the file against the installed
+     * extension root, so blanking it here, before the library child installs, is
+     * what actually saves the data.
+     *
+     * @return  void
+     *
+     * @since  __DEPLOY_VERSION__
+     */
+    private function disarmLegacyScriptureUninstallSql(): void
+    {
+        $sqlFile = JPATH_LIBRARIES . '/cwmscripture/sql/uninstall.mysql.utf8.sql';
+
+        if (!is_file($sqlFile)) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        $buffer = @file_get_contents($sqlFile);
+
+        if ($buffer === false || stripos($buffer, 'DROP TABLE') === false) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        $replacement = "--\n"
+            . "-- Neutralised by the pkg_cwmscripture installer.\n"
+            . "--\n"
+            . "-- Joomla runs a library's uninstall SQL on every update, so the DROP TABLE\n"
+            . "-- statements this file used to hold wiped every downloaded Bible translation\n"
+            . "-- each time lib_cwmscripture was upgraded. Table removal now lives in the\n"
+            . "-- library's script.php, which can tell an upgrade from a real uninstall.\n"
+            . "--\n";
+
+        if (@file_put_contents($sqlFile, $replacement) === false) {
+            Factory::getApplication()->enqueueMessage(
+                'The scripture package could not rewrite ' . $sqlFile . '. Joomla may drop your '
+                . 'locally downloaded Bible translations during this update; re-download them '
+                . 'from the Scripture Links plugin settings if the Local Translations list comes '
+                . 'back empty.',
+                'warning'
+            );
+
+            Log::add(
+                'pkg_cwmscripture: could not disarm legacy scripture uninstall SQL at ' . $sqlFile,
+                Log::WARNING,
+                'cwmscripture.install'
+            );
+
+            return;
+        }
+
+        Log::add(
+            'pkg_cwmscripture: disarmed legacy scripture uninstall SQL (bible tables preserved).',
+            Log::INFO,
+            'cwmscripture.install'
+        );
+    }
+};
diff --git a/composer.json b/composer.json
index 1a8656a..6eae8b9 100644
--- a/composer.json
+++ b/composer.json
@@ -1,66 +1,78 @@
 {
-  "name": "cwm/scripture-links",
-  "description": "CWM Scripture Links - Content plugin for automatic scripture linking in Joomla 5/6",
-  "type": "joomla-package",
-  "license": "GPL-2.0-or-later",
-  "homepage": "https://www.christianwebministries.org",
-  "require": {
-    "php": ">=8.4"
-  },
-  "require-dev": {
-    "cwm/build-tools": "^1.9.0",
-    "friendsofphp/php-cs-fixer": "^3.0",
-    "phpunit/phpunit": "^12.5"
-  },
-  "extra": {
-    "cwm-build-tools": {
-      "joomlaLinks": [
-        { "type": "plugin", "group": "content", "element": "scripturelinks" },
-        { "type": "plugin", "group": "task",    "element": "cwmscripture"   }
-      ]
+    "name": "cwm/scripture-links",
+    "description": "CWM Scripture Links - Content plugin for automatic scripture linking in Joomla 5/6",
+    "type": "joomla-package",
+    "license": "GPL-2.0-or-later",
+    "homepage": "https://www.christianwebministries.org",
+    "require": {
+        "php": ">=8.4"
+    },
+    "require-dev": {
+        "cwm/build-tools": "^1.9.0",
+        "friendsofphp/php-cs-fixer": "^3.0",
+        "phpunit/phpunit": "^12.5"
+    },
+    "extra": {
+        "cwm-build-tools": {
+            "joomlaLinks": [
+                {
+                    "type": "plugin",
+                    "group": "content",
+                    "element": "scripturelinks"
+                },
+                {
+                    "type": "plugin",
+                    "group": "task",
+                    "element": "cwmscripture"
+                }
+            ]
+        }
+    },
+    "repositories": [
+        {
+            "type": "vcs",
+            "url": "https://github.com/Joomla-Bible-Study/cwm-build-tools"
+        }
+    ],
+    "autoload": {
+        "psr-4": {
+            "CWM\\Library\\Scripture\\": "libraries/lib_cwmscripture/src/",
+            "CWM\\Plugin\\Content\\ScriptureLinks\\": "src/",
+            "CWM\\Plugin\\Task\\Cwmscripture\\": "plg_task_cwmscripture/src/",
+            "CWM\\Plugin\\System\\Cwmscripture\\": "plg_system_cwmscripture/src/"
+        }
+    },
+    "autoload-dev": {
+        "psr-4": {
+            "CWM\\ScriptureLinks\\Tests\\": "tests/unit/"
+        }
+    },
+    "scripts": {
+        "build": "cwm-package",
+        "test": "phpunit",
+        "test:unit": "phpunit --testsuite unit",
+        "lint": "php-cs-fixer fix --dry-run --diff",
+        "lint:fix": "php-cs-fixer fix",
+        "lint:syntax": "find src plg_task_cwmscripture -type f -name '*.php' -print0 | xargs -0 -n 1 -P 8 php -l > /dev/null",
+        "check": [
+            "@lint:syntax",
+            "@lint",
+            "@test"
+        ],
+        "release": "cwm-release",
+        "bump-version": "cwm-bump",
+        "package": "cwm-package",
+        "ars-publish": "cwm-ars-publish",
+        "ars-list": "cwm-ars-list",
+        "changelog": "cwm-changelog",
+        "sync-configs": "cwm-sync-configs",
+        "sync-languages": "cwm-sync-languages",
+        "setup": "cwm-setup",
+        "link": "cwm-link",
+        "link-check": "cwm-link-check",
+        "clean": "cwm-clean",
+        "verify": "cwm-verify",
+        "joomla-install": "cwm-joomla-install",
+        "joomla-latest": "cwm-joomla-latest"
     }
-  },
-  "repositories": [
-    {
-      "type": "vcs",
-      "url": "https://github.com/Joomla-Bible-Study/cwm-build-tools"
-    }
-  ],
-  "autoload": {
-    "psr-4": {
-      "CWM\\Library\\Scripture\\": "libraries/lib_cwmscripture/src/",
-      "CWM\\Plugin\\Content\\ScriptureLinks\\": "src/",
-      "CWM\\Plugin\\Task\\Cwmscripture\\": "plg_task_cwmscripture/src/"
-    }
-  },
-  "autoload-dev": {
-    "psr-4": {
-      "CWM\\ScriptureLinks\\Tests\\": "tests/unit/"
-    }
-  },
-  "scripts": {
-    "build":           "cwm-package",
-    "test":            "phpunit",
-    "test:unit":       "phpunit --testsuite unit",
-    "lint":            "php-cs-fixer fix --dry-run --diff",
-    "lint:fix":        "php-cs-fixer fix",
-    "lint:syntax":     "find src plg_task_cwmscripture -type f -name '*.php' -print0 | xargs -0 -n 1 -P 8 php -l > /dev/null",
-    "check":           ["@lint:syntax", "@lint", "@test"],
-    "release":         "cwm-release",
-    "bump-version":    "cwm-bump",
-    "package":         "cwm-package",
-    "ars-publish":     "cwm-ars-publish",
-    "ars-list":        "cwm-ars-list",
-    "changelog":       "cwm-changelog",
-    "sync-configs":    "cwm-sync-configs",
-    "sync-languages":  "cwm-sync-languages",
-
-    "setup":           "cwm-setup",
-    "link":            "cwm-link",
-    "link-check":      "cwm-link-check",
-    "clean":           "cwm-clean",
-    "verify":          "cwm-verify",
-    "joomla-install":  "cwm-joomla-install",
-    "joomla-latest":   "cwm-joomla-latest"
-  }
 }
diff --git a/cwm-build.config.json b/cwm-build.config.json
index 21321c7..4aac8bd 100644
--- a/cwm-build.config.json
+++ b/cwm-build.config.json
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
         "outputDir":   "build/dist",
         "outputName":  "pkg_cwmscripture-{version}.zip",
         "innerLayout": "root",
+        "installer":   "build/script.install.php",
         "includes": [
             {
                 "type":       "prebuilt",
@@ -56,14 +57,31 @@
                     ],
                     "excludes": [".git", ".DS_Store", ".idea", "node_modules"]
                 }
+            },
+            {
+                "type":       "inline",
+                "outputName": "plg_system_cwmscripture.zip",
+                "config": {
+                    "outputDir":  "build/dist",
+                    "outputName": "plg_system_cwmscripture.zip",
+                    "manifest":   "plg_system_cwmscripture/cwmscripture.xml",
+                    "sources": [
+                        { "from": "plg_system_cwmscripture/src",      "to": "src" },
+                        { "from": "plg_system_cwmscripture/services", "to": "services" },
+                        { "from": "plg_system_cwmscripture/language", "to": "language" }
+                    ],
+                    "excludes": [".git", ".DS_Store", ".idea", "node_modules"]
+                }
             }
         ],
         "verify": {
             "expectedEntries": [
                 "pkg_cwmscripture.xml",
+                "script.install.php",
                 "lib_cwmscripture.zip",
                 "plg_content_scripturelinks.zip",
-                "plg_task_cwmscripture.zip"
+                "plg_task_cwmscripture.zip",
+                "plg_system_cwmscripture.zip"
             ]
         }
     },
diff --git a/libraries/lib_cwmscripture b/libraries/lib_cwmscripture
index 3babb2a..addc517 160000
--- a/libraries/lib_cwmscripture
+++ b/libraries/lib_cwmscripture
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 3babb2ab9a5ab0204fe4cf14d902017e6afb0779
+Subproject commit addc517eb7e9ca93f2d79f9e343d56afde7a885f
diff --git a/phpunit.xml b/phpunit.xml
index 9491a44..91543d3 100644
--- a/phpunit.xml
+++ b/phpunit.xml
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
         <include>
             <directory>src</directory>
             <directory>plg_task_cwmscripture/src</directory>
+            <directory>plg_system_cwmscripture/src</directory>
         </include>
     </source>
 </phpunit>
diff --git a/plg_system_cwmscripture/cwmscripture.xml b/plg_system_cwmscripture/cwmscripture.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f53dc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plg_system_cwmscripture/cwmscripture.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<extension type="plugin" group="system" method="upgrade">
+    <name>plg_system_cwmscripture</name>
+    <author>CWM Team</author>
+    <authorEmail>info@christianwebministries.org</authorEmail>
+    <authorUrl>https://www.christianwebministries.org</authorUrl>
+    <copyright>(C) 2026 CWM Team All rights reserved</copyright>
+    <license>GNU General Public License version 2 or later; see LICENSE.txt</license>
+    <version>1.1.6</version>
+    <creationDate>July 2026</creationDate>
+    <description>PLG_SYSTEM_CWMSCRIPTURE_XML_DESCRIPTION</description>
+    <namespace path="src">CWM\Plugin\System\Cwmscripture</namespace>
+
+    <files>
+        <folder plugin="cwmscripture">services</folder>
+        <folder>src</folder>
+        <folder>language</folder>
+    </files>
+
+    <languages>
+        <language tag="en-GB">language/en-GB/en-GB.plg_system_cwmscripture.ini</language>
+        <language tag="en-GB">language/en-GB/en-GB.plg_system_cwmscripture.sys.ini</language>
+    </languages>
+</extension>
diff --git a/plg_system_cwmscripture/language/en-GB/en-GB.plg_system_cwmscripture.ini b/plg_system_cwmscripture/language/en-GB/en-GB.plg_system_cwmscripture.ini
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db8ccc5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plg_system_cwmscripture/language/en-GB/en-GB.plg_system_cwmscripture.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+; CWM Scripture Library - System Plugin
+; Copyright (C) 2026 CWM Team All rights reserved
+; License GNU General Public License version 2 or later; see LICENSE.txt
+
+PLG_SYSTEM_CWMSCRIPTURE="System - CWM Scripture Protection"
+PLG_SYSTEM_CWMSCRIPTURE_XML_DESCRIPTION="Protects locally downloaded Bible translations from lib_cwmscripture's legacy uninstall SQL, which older versions ran on every update. Keep this plugin enabled."
diff --git a/plg_system_cwmscripture/language/en-GB/en-GB.plg_system_cwmscripture.sys.ini b/plg_system_cwmscripture/language/en-GB/en-GB.plg_system_cwmscripture.sys.ini
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db8ccc5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plg_system_cwmscripture/language/en-GB/en-GB.plg_system_cwmscripture.sys.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+; CWM Scripture Library - System Plugin
+; Copyright (C) 2026 CWM Team All rights reserved
+; License GNU General Public License version 2 or later; see LICENSE.txt
+
+PLG_SYSTEM_CWMSCRIPTURE="System - CWM Scripture Protection"
+PLG_SYSTEM_CWMSCRIPTURE_XML_DESCRIPTION="Protects locally downloaded Bible translations from lib_cwmscripture's legacy uninstall SQL, which older versions ran on every update. Keep this plugin enabled."
diff --git a/plg_system_cwmscripture/services/provider.php b/plg_system_cwmscripture/services/provider.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e56179
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plg_system_cwmscripture/services/provider.php
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * @package    CWM.Plugin.System.Cwmscripture
+ * @copyright  (C) 2026 CWM Team All rights reserved
+ * @license    GNU General Public License version 2 or later; see LICENSE.txt
+ */
+
+\defined('_JEXEC') or die;
+
+use CWM\Plugin\System\Cwmscripture\Extension\Cwmscripture;
+use Joomla\CMS\Extension\PluginInterface;
+use Joomla\CMS\Factory;
+use Joomla\CMS\Plugin\PluginHelper;
+use Joomla\DI\Container;
+use Joomla\DI\ServiceProviderInterface;
+use Joomla\Event\DispatcherInterface;
+
+return new class () implements ServiceProviderInterface {
+    public function register(Container $container): void
+    {
+        $container->set(
+            PluginInterface::class,
+            function (Container $container) {
+                $plugin = new Cwmscripture(
+                    $container->get(DispatcherInterface::class),
+                    (array) PluginHelper::getPlugin('system', 'cwmscripture')
+                );
+
+                $plugin->setApplication(Factory::getApplication());
+
+                return $plugin;
+            }
+        );
+    }
+};
diff --git a/plg_system_cwmscripture/src/Extension/Cwmscripture.php b/plg_system_cwmscripture/src/Extension/Cwmscripture.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ba17cbf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plg_system_cwmscripture/src/Extension/Cwmscripture.php
@@ -0,0 +1,173 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * @package    CWM.Plugin.System.Cwmscripture
+ * @copyright  (C) 2026 CWM Team All rights reserved
+ * @license    GNU General Public License version 2 or later; see LICENSE.txt
+ */
+
+namespace CWM\Plugin\System\Cwmscripture\Extension;
+
+use Joomla\CMS\Plugin\CMSPlugin;
+use Joomla\Event\SubscriberInterface;
+
+// phpcs:disable PSR1.Files.SideEffects
+\defined('_JEXEC') or die;
+// phpcs:enable PSR1.Files.SideEffects
+
+/**
+ * Protects locally downloaded Bibles from the scripture library's legacy
+ * uninstall SQL.
+ *
+ * lib_cwmscripture up to 1.1.4 declared `<uninstall><sql>` pointing at DROP
+ * TABLE statements. Joomla's LibraryAdapter uninstalls the installed library
+ * before writing the new one, so that SQL ran on every UPDATE and wiped
+ * `#__bsms_bible_verses` / `#__bsms_bible_translations` — every translation the
+ * site owner had downloaded, gone, with the Local Translations panel coming
+ * back empty.
+ *
+ * 1.1.6 removed the block, but that only protects the upgrade *after* this one:
+ * the uninstall SQL Joomla executes during an update is the one already sitting
+ * in JPATH_LIBRARIES, belonging to the installed version. So a site on 1.1.4 is
+ * still destroyed by the very update that fixes it.
+ *
+ * The package installers disarm the file for package updates, but the library
+ * carries its own update server and is listed separately in the Update Manager.
+ * A library-only update runs no package code at all — and nothing inside the
+ * incoming library can help either, because `InstallerAdapter::install()` calls
+ * `checkExtensionInFilesystem()` (which triggers the old uninstall) *before*
+ * `triggerManifestScript('preflight')` loads the new script file. By the time
+ * any incoming code runs, the tables are already gone.
+ *
+ * The only remaining place to intervene is code already resident on the site,
+ * running before the installer does. Hence this plugin: it blanks the file
+ * while the administrator is on com_installer, before they click Update.
+ *
+ * plg_system_proclaim does the same thing for Proclaim sites. This exists so
+ * stacks that carry the library without Proclaim — Living Word, or any
+ * third-party consumer — are covered too.
+ *
+ * One-shot: once the file holds no statements the check short-circuits and this
+ * costs a single is_file()/strpos() per admin installer page load.
+ *
+ * @since  __DEPLOY_VERSION__
+ */
+final class Cwmscripture extends CMSPlugin implements SubscriberInterface
+{
+    /**
+     * Returns the events this subscriber will listen to.
+     *
+     * @return  array<string, string>
+     *
+     * @since  __DEPLOY_VERSION__
+     */
+    public static function getSubscribedEvents(): array
+    {
+        return [
+            'onAfterRoute' => 'onAfterRoute',
+        ];
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Disarm the legacy uninstall SQL while the admin is in the installer.
+     *
+     * @return  void
+     *
+     * @since  __DEPLOY_VERSION__
+     */
+    public function onAfterRoute(): void
+    {
+        $app = $this->getApplication();
+
+        if (!$app->isClient('administrator')) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if ($app->getInput()->getCmd('option', '') !== 'com_installer') {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        $this->disarmLegacyScriptureUninstallSql();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Does this SQL contain an executable DROP TABLE?
+     *
+     * The distinction matters: the already-disarmed 1.1.5 and 1.1.6 files
+     * *describe* the old behaviour in prose, so they contain the words "DROP
+     * TABLE" inside `--` comments. A naive substring search flags them as
+     * dangerous and rewrites files that are perfectly fine — so only lines that
+     * are not comments count.
+     *
+     * Deliberately conservative: a trailing `-- DROP TABLE` comment on a real
+     * statement line reads as armed. Rewriting an already-safe file costs
+     * nothing; missing a live one costs the site its Bibles.
+     *
+     * @param   string  $sql  Contents of an uninstall SQL file
+     *
+     * @return  bool  True when at least one executable DROP TABLE is present
+     *
+     * @since  __DEPLOY_VERSION__
+     */
+    public static function sqlIsArmed(string $sql): bool
+    {
+        if (stripos($sql, 'DROP TABLE') === false) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        foreach (preg_split('/\R/', $sql) ?: [] as $line) {
+            $line = trim($line);
+
+            if ($line === '' || str_starts_with($line, '--')) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            if (stripos($line, 'DROP TABLE') !== false) {
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Blank the scripture library's legacy, destructive uninstall SQL.
+     *
+     * Rewrites rather than deletes: an older manifest still references the file
+     * by path, and Installer::parseSQLFiles() resolves it against the installed
+     * extension root, so removing it would make those sites fail to find it.
+     *
+     * @return  void
+     *
+     * @since  __DEPLOY_VERSION__
+     */
+    private function disarmLegacyScriptureUninstallSql(): void
+    {
+        $sqlFile = JPATH_LIBRARIES . '/cwmscripture/sql/uninstall.mysql.utf8.sql';
+
+        if (!is_file($sqlFile) || !is_writable($sqlFile)) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        $contents = @file_get_contents($sqlFile);
+
+        if ($contents === false || !self::sqlIsArmed($contents)) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        $replacement = <<<'SQL'
+--
+-- CWM Scripture Library - Uninstall SQL (neutralised by plg_system_cwmscripture)
+--
+-- This file held DROP TABLE statements for the shared bible tables. Joomla runs
+-- a library's uninstall SQL on every UPDATE, not only on removal, so they were
+-- destroying every locally downloaded translation on each upgrade.
+--
+-- Emptied in place rather than deleted: an older manifest still references this
+-- path. Do not reintroduce DROP TABLE statements here.
+--
+SQL;
+
+        @file_put_contents($sqlFile, $replacement . "\n");
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plg_task_cwmscripture/script.php b/plg_task_cwmscripture/script.php
index c311296..586975d 100644
--- a/plg_task_cwmscripture/script.php
+++ b/plg_task_cwmscripture/script.php
@@ -38,9 +38,47 @@ public function update(InstallerAdapter $adapter): bool
 
     public function uninstall(InstallerAdapter $adapter): bool
     {
+        $this->consumer('unregister');
+
         return true;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Declare, or withdraw, this plugin's dependency on lib_cwmscripture.
+     *
+     * Joomla tracks no dependencies between extensions, so the library cannot
+     * discover who relies on it. Registering means the library refuses to be
+     * uninstalled while we are installed, and the shared #__bsms_bible_* tables
+     * are not dropped while we still read them.
+     *
+     * The library's own entry point handles autoloading, version tolerance and
+     * error handling, so this stays two lines. Note the group is part of the
+     * registry key — a plugin registered without it never matches on lookup.
+     *
+     * @param   string  $action  'register' on install/update, 'unregister' on removal
+     *
+     * @return  void
+     *
+     * @since   __DEPLOY_VERSION__
+     */
+    private function consumer(string $action): void
+    {
+        if (!is_file($helper = JPATH_LIBRARIES . '/cwmscripture/src/consumer.php')) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        $registry = require $helper;
+
+        // Not one dynamic call: unregister() takes no display name.
+        if ($action === 'register') {
+            $registry->register('cwmscripture', 'plugin', 'task', 'Scripture task plugin (plg_task_cwmscripture)');
+
+            return;
+        }
+
+        $registry->unregister('cwmscripture', 'plugin', 'task');
+    }
+
     /**
      * Auto-enable the plugin and queue a one-shot core download task.
      *
@@ -76,6 +114,7 @@ public function postflight(string $type, InstallerAdapter $adapter): bool
             $db->execute();
 
             $this->scheduleCoreDownload($db);
+            $this->consumer('register');
         } catch (\Throwable $e) {
             Factory::getApplication()->enqueueMessage(
                 'plg_task_cwmscripture: postflight failed — ' . $e->getMessage(),
diff --git a/script.php b/script.php
index 97493c6..9f0f74d 100644
--- a/script.php
+++ b/script.php
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ public function postflight(string $type, InstallerAdapter $adapter): bool
             // Silent — plugin row may not exist yet during discover install.
         }
 
+        // Declare our dependency on lib_cwmscripture
+        $this->consumer('register');
+
         return true;
     }
 
@@ -77,6 +80,44 @@ public function update(InstallerAdapter $adapter): bool
 
     public function uninstall(InstallerAdapter $adapter): bool
     {
+        $this->consumer('unregister');
+
         return true;
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Declare, or withdraw, this plugin's dependency on lib_cwmscripture.
+     *
+     * Joomla tracks no dependencies between extensions, so the library cannot
+     * discover who relies on it. Registering means the library refuses to be
+     * uninstalled while we are installed, and the shared #__bsms_bible_* tables
+     * are not dropped while we still read them.
+     *
+     * The library's own entry point handles autoloading, version tolerance and
+     * error handling, so this stays two lines. Note the group is part of the
+     * registry key — a plugin registered without it never matches on lookup.
+     *
+     * @param   string  $action  'register' on install/update, 'unregister' on removal
+     *
+     * @return  void
+     *
+     * @since   __DEPLOY_VERSION__
+     */
+    private function consumer(string $action): void
+    {
+        if (!is_file($helper = JPATH_LIBRARIES . '/cwmscripture/src/consumer.php')) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        $registry = require $helper;
+
+        // Not one dynamic call: unregister() takes no display name.
+        if ($action === 'register') {
+            $registry->register('scripturelinks', 'plugin', 'content', 'Scripture Links (plg_content_scripturelinks)');
+
+            return;
+        }
+
+        $registry->unregister('scripturelinks', 'plugin', 'content');
+    }
 };
diff --git a/tests/unit/System/CwmscriptureSystemPluginTest.php b/tests/unit/System/CwmscriptureSystemPluginTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b51054c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/System/CwmscriptureSystemPluginTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * Guards the disarm detection in plg_system_cwmscripture.
+ *
+ * The plugin blanks lib_cwmscripture's legacy uninstall SQL before an
+ * administrator runs a library-only update, because Joomla executes the
+ * *installed* version's uninstall SQL during an update — and up to 1.1.4 that
+ * meant DROP TABLE on every locally downloaded Bible.
+ *
+ * The subtle part is telling an executable statement from a mention inside a
+ * comment: the already-disarmed 1.1.5 and 1.1.6 files describe the old
+ * behaviour in prose and so contain the words "DROP TABLE" themselves. Getting
+ * that wrong means either rewriting safe files or, far worse, leaving a live
+ * one alone.
+ *
+ * @package    CWM.ScriptureLinks.Tests
+ * @copyright  (C) 2026 CWM Team All rights reserved
+ * @license    GNU General Public License version 2 or later; see LICENSE.txt
+ */
+
+namespace CWM\ScriptureLinks\Tests\System;
+
+use CWM\Plugin\System\Cwmscripture\Extension\Cwmscripture;
+use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase;
+
+class CwmscriptureSystemPluginTest extends TestCase
+{
+    /**
+     * The real v1.1.4 file — the one that destroyed people's translations.
+     */
+    private const ARMED_1_1_4 = <<<'SQL'
+--
+-- CWM Scripture Library - Uninstall SQL
+-- Only runs when the library is uninstalled standalone (not locked by Proclaim).
+--
+
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS `#__bsms_scripture_cache`;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS `#__bsms_bible_verses`;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS `#__bsms_bible_translations`;
+SQL;
+
+    /**
+     * The v1.1.5 / v1.1.6 shape: statements removed, but the prose explaining
+     * why still names them.
+     */
+    private const DISARMED_WITH_PROSE = <<<'SQL'
+--
+-- CWM Scripture Library - Uninstall SQL (intentionally empty)
+--
+-- This file used to DROP the three bible tables. It must never do that again:
+-- Joomla's LibraryAdapter uninstalls the installed library before writing the
+-- new one, so this file ran on every UPDATE.
+--
+-- Do not reintroduce DROP TABLE statements here.
+--
+SQL;
+
+    public function testRealPreFixFileIsArmed(): void
+    {
+        $this->assertTrue(
+            Cwmscripture::sqlIsArmed(self::ARMED_1_1_4),
+            'The v1.1.4 file has three executable DROP TABLE statements and must be disarmed.'
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function testDisarmedFileMentioningDropTableInCommentsIsNotArmed(): void
+    {
+        $this->assertFalse(
+            Cwmscripture::sqlIsArmed(self::DISARMED_WITH_PROSE),
+            'The 1.1.5/1.1.6 files describe DROP TABLE in prose. Treating that as armed '
+            . 'would rewrite a file that is already safe.'
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function testEmptyAndCommentOnlyFilesAreNotArmed(): void
+    {
+        $this->assertFalse(Cwmscripture::sqlIsArmed(''));
+        $this->assertFalse(Cwmscripture::sqlIsArmed("-- nothing to see here\n"));
+    }
+
+    public function testUnrelatedStatementsAreNotArmed(): void
+    {
+        $this->assertFalse(
+            Cwmscripture::sqlIsArmed("DELETE FROM `#__bsms_scripture_cache`;\n"),
+            'Only DROP TABLE is the hazard — other statements must not trigger a rewrite.'
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function testIndentedAndLowercaseStatementsAreArmed(): void
+    {
+        $this->assertTrue(
+            Cwmscripture::sqlIsArmed("    drop table if exists `#__bsms_bible_verses`;\n"),
+            'Detection must not depend on case or leading whitespace.'
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function testStatementAfterCommentBlockIsArmed(): void
+    {
+        $sql = self::DISARMED_WITH_PROSE . "\nDROP TABLE IF EXISTS `#__bsms_bible_verses`;\n";
+
+        $this->assertTrue(
+            Cwmscripture::sqlIsArmed($sql),
+            'A live statement appended below the reassuring comment block must still be caught.'
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function testCarriageReturnLineEndingsAreHandled(): void
+    {
+        $sql = "--\r\n-- header\r\n--\r\nDROP TABLE IF EXISTS `#__bsms_bible_verses`;\r\n";
+
+        $this->assertTrue(
+            Cwmscripture::sqlIsArmed($sql),
+            'A file saved with CRLF endings is just as dangerous.'
+        );
+    }
+}