Good Things To Say About The NLTse

I really like the NLTse. I think some unjust criticism is merely that -- unjust. It's a functionally-equivalent translation.But not 'loose' as some would charge.

From The Bible Translation Committee July 2004 :"Their [translators] goal was to be both faithful to the ancient texts and eminently readable.The result is a translation that is both exegetically accurate and idiomatically powerful."

Here is a text with which many should be familiar.First I will give a more tradtional rendering from the NRSV, then the refreshing wording from the NLTse.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."

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For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me." In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant between God and his people -- an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it." For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until he comes again.

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What do you think? The NLTse is one line longer than the NRSV, but the wording makes the ultra-familiar text refreshingly new. It does away with some archaic expressions also. Those expressions may be comforting to many, but awkward when compared to standard English.

So this thread is in praise to the Lord for His provision of the NLTse for 21st century English speakers -- native and 2nd or 3rd language users as well.

BTW, our assembly announced the Lord's death last Sunday.

 

Yeah, I know TC. I've been following all the action on the various blogs, including your own. I just thought I would add my own little contribution here.

 

NLTse/ESV Psalm 15

The NLTse wording will be at the top, and the ESV rendering will be below.

Who may worship in your sanctuary,Lord?
Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right,
speaking the truth from sincere hearts.
Those who refuse to gossip
or harm their neighbors
or speak evil of their friends.
Those who despise flagrant sinners,
and honor the faithful followers of the Lord,
and keep their promises even when it hurts.
Those who lend money without charging interest,
and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent.
Such people will stand firm forever.

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O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
He who walks blamelessly and does
what is right
and speaks truth in his heart;
who does not slander with his tongue
and does no evil to his neighbor,
nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
in whose eyes a vile person is despised,
but who honors those who fear the Lord;
who swears to his own hurt and does
not change;
who does not put out his money
at interest
and does not take a bribe against the
innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.

 

I just did since you mentioned it.I have been keeping up with Keith's entries on his own blog.

 

There's another thread which deals with the KJV Bibles and the NKJ.Some are saying those two are different enough to warrant them as basically unrelated. Others say they are very close despite some changes.

So that reminds me of the relationship between the original Living Translation and the current NLTse.The affinity between the two could not be more distinct.Already the first edition of the NLT was a departure from the parent, but the second edition bears hardly any resemblance to its father.

Any KJV is closer to the NKJ than the LB is to the NLTse.