if you have the holy bible at home, what version of it do you have
i have only the king james version now.
46-50, M
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LordShadowfire · 100+, M
@DrWatson Ving Rhames edition is better.
DrWatson · 70-79, M
@Lyfis2live Different translations have different purposes. So for example, the Douay-Rheims is really awkward sounding. But after studying Latin a little, I started reading the Douay-Rheims and finally understood what those translators were trying to accomplish: they were trying to capture the Latin syntax as accurately as possible in English. So, [i]for that purpose[/i], it would be the best English translation. But if that is not a purpose that is of interest, then there is not much point to reading that translation.
As for the others, I find I like some passages better in one, and some passages better than others. I am not a scholar of Hebrew or Greek, so I am not going to comment about which is most accurate. To the extent that I might have an opinion about the accuracy of a particular passage in one translation versus another, it is based on commentaries I have read.
I also figure that Latin is closer to Greek than English is, so I read the Vulgate as a way of getting close to the Greek. (But I find Paul's letters difficult in Latin. I am no expert when it comes to Latin, by any means.)
But by far, the most beautiful way in which I have experienced the Psalms is in Latin.
I am in the minority, I know, when I say that I have never been able to warm up to the King James. My favorite "thee and thy" translation is the RSV.
As for the others, I find I like some passages better in one, and some passages better than others. I am not a scholar of Hebrew or Greek, so I am not going to comment about which is most accurate. To the extent that I might have an opinion about the accuracy of a particular passage in one translation versus another, it is based on commentaries I have read.
I also figure that Latin is closer to Greek than English is, so I read the Vulgate as a way of getting close to the Greek. (But I find Paul's letters difficult in Latin. I am no expert when it comes to Latin, by any means.)
But by far, the most beautiful way in which I have experienced the Psalms is in Latin.
I am in the minority, I know, when I say that I have never been able to warm up to the King James. My favorite "thee and thy" translation is the RSV.
@DrWatson Thank you for taking time to reply but it took me nowhere near to the reply I was seeking.
DrWatson · 70-79, M
@Lyfis2live Well, let's see if I can try again. Looking back on what I wrote, I used the phrase "most accurate" in response to what you asked about being "most authentic." I am not in a position to say which English translation is most accurate, and I suspect the answer will be different depending on which passage we look at.
But what I said about Latin being closer to Greek than English might be more to the point. Jerome came up with the Latin Vulgate directly from the Hebrew and Greek (although it should be noted that it was not all done by him personally. He had a staff, and they included some nuns.) Furthermore, the Vulgate has been updated more than once over the centuries on the basis of studying other ancient versions in various languages such as Syriac. Particularly in the case of the Old Testament, we are in an interesting situation. On the one hand, the oldest Hebrew Version that we have is the Medieval Masoretic text, On the other hand, we have ancient manuscripts in other languages, where the translator was reading a much older Hebrew text.
So, if I had to weigh in on one version, I would choose the periodically revised Latin Vulgate, because of all the meticulous scholarship that goes into it.
But what I said about Latin being closer to Greek than English might be more to the point. Jerome came up with the Latin Vulgate directly from the Hebrew and Greek (although it should be noted that it was not all done by him personally. He had a staff, and they included some nuns.) Furthermore, the Vulgate has been updated more than once over the centuries on the basis of studying other ancient versions in various languages such as Syriac. Particularly in the case of the Old Testament, we are in an interesting situation. On the one hand, the oldest Hebrew Version that we have is the Medieval Masoretic text, On the other hand, we have ancient manuscripts in other languages, where the translator was reading a much older Hebrew text.
So, if I had to weigh in on one version, I would choose the periodically revised Latin Vulgate, because of all the meticulous scholarship that goes into it.