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Pick the Divergent Translation

Discussion in 'Bible Versions & Translations' started by Deacon, Apr 7, 2009.

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  1. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    Define the differences
    Pick the irregular translation
    Explain why it’s different

    Hear my prayer, O Lord,
    And give ear unto my cry;
    Hold not thy peace at my tears:
    For I am a stranger with thee,
    And a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
    O spare me, that I may recover strength,
    Before I go hence, and be no more.
    Psalm 39:12-13 AV 1873


    Hear my prayer, O Lord,
    and give ear to my cry;
    do not hold your peace at my tears.
    For I am your passing guest,
    an alien, like all my forebears.
    Turn your gaze away from me, that I may smile again,
    before I depart and am no more.
    Psalm 39:12-13 NRSV


    Hear my prayer, O Lord!
    Listen to my cries for help!
    Don’t ignore my tears.
    For I am your guest—
    a traveler passing through,
    as my ancestors were before me.
    Leave me alone so I can smile again
    before I am gone and exist no more.
    Psalm 39:12-13 NLT

    Rob
     
    #1 Deacon, Apr 7, 2009
  2. EdSutton

    EdSutton New Member

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    I would suggest four faulty implications, due to our understanding of language, with at least one in each version cited.

    The first is the implication of "stranger" (AV) vs. guest.

    The second is the implication of "alien" (NRSV) vs. "sojourner" (AV) or "traveler" (NLT).

    The third is the implication of "recover strength" (AV) vs. "smile again."

    And the fourth is the implication contained in "exist no more" (NLT) vs. "be no more" (AV) and "am no more" (NRSV), where the latter two can clearly be understood as idioms for death, which does not equal some stage of 'non-existence' as might be inferred from the NLT.

    FTR, I do not read any Hebrew, so I have not one clue as to how the underlying text might or should read, having to rely on others, in this.

    That said -

    How did I do, so far? ;)

    Ed
     
    #2 EdSutton, Apr 7, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 7, 2009
  3. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    Very good!

    Sorry Ed, I replied early this morning but lost it upon posting.
    I’ll try again.

    You noted:

    1) "stranger" (AV) vs. guest.

    2) "alien" (NRSV) vs. "sojourner" (AV) or "traveler" (NLT)

    3) "recover strength" (AV) vs. "smile again."

    4) "exist no more" (NLT) vs. "be no more" (AV) and "am no more" (NRSV)

    The differences you noted are all within the semantic range of each words meanings.

    And there is yet another difference.

    5) O spare me (AV), Turn your gaze away from me (NRSV), Leave me alone (NLT)

    It's that fifth one that got me looking at the different translations.

    The NRSV provides a literal translation.
    The NLT and AV give an interpretation of the literal words.

    What does it mean to ask God to “turn His eyes away” from me?

    Why would someone ask that?

    Rob
     
    #3 Deacon, Apr 8, 2009
  4. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    Good question! I think you have to read the whole psalm, especially the preceding 2 verses (this is from the NASB, which also has "turn your gaze away from me, that I may smile again"):

    "Turn your gaze from me" because the Lord is chastening him?
     
    #4 Marcia, Apr 8, 2009
  5. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    Oxford English Dictionary says an old meaning of spare is to close the eyes.
     
    #5 Jerome, Apr 8, 2009
  6. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    What a find! Thanks Jerome.

    Spare (OED) - - - three full pages of definitions, :eek:

    In the second to last notation:

    Spare ..... To close (the lips or eyes) firmly. Obscure

    [OED page S-515]

    Rob
     
    #6 Deacon, Apr 9, 2009
  7. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    Obs. = obsolete
     
    #7 Jerome, Apr 9, 2009
  8. Logos1560

    Logos1560 Well-Known Member
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    Is that the meaning intended by the KJV translators? The KJV translators may have kept "spare" from the Bishops' Bible, and that does not seem to be how the word was used in the Bishops'.

    Psalm 39:13 in 1568 Bishops' Bible
    Oh spare me a little, that I may recover my strength: before I go hence, and be no more [seen].
     
    #8 Logos1560, Apr 9, 2009
  9. Logos1560

    Logos1560 Well-Known Member
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    Psalm 39:12-13 in 1560 Geneva Bible

    Hear my prayer, O Lord, and hearken unto my cry: keep not silence at my tears, for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner as all my fathers.

    Stay thine anger from me, that I may recover my strength, before I go hence and be not.
     
    #9 Logos1560, Apr 9, 2009
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