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I am looking forward to the new Psalter. I am also happy about the fact that it is all in modern language.
The one thing that I do not like is that they have taken out all the Jehovah's. LORD will be in its place at all points.
Let me be the first here to enter an unofficial protest to the new Psalter.
I don't like the fact that they've gone away from the older language, at all. When I read and memorize the Bible, I like the idea that previous generations read and learned the same words, and that my children, and their children, will do so as well -- and the same thing goes for Psalter versions. Why do our Psalter versions need to change every generation (at least); and why do we need to abandon what might be described as the traditional language of piety, still found in our doctrinal standards? My wife and I use the Authorized Version of Scripture, and the Psalms of David in Metre, for family worship. Crown and Covenant also carries words-only editions of that auld Scottish version of the Psalms; I highly recommend it.
'Jehovah' is formed from combining the consonants of YHWH and adding the points (vowels) of Adonai. Hebrews would not pronounce the name YHWH. They substituted Adonai.
Originally Posted by he beholds
So should the OT say Jehovah, LORD, or Adonai?
Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah
(Psalm 146)
1. Hallelujah, praise Jehovah,
O my soul, Jehovah praise;
I will sing the glorious praises
Of my God through all my days.
Put no confidence in princes,
Nor for help on man depend;
He shall die, to dust returning,
And his purposes shall end.
2. Happy is the man that chooses
Israel's God to be his aid;
He is blest whose hope of blessing
On the Lord his God is stayed.
Heaven and earth the Lord created,
Seas and all that they contain;
He delivers from oppression,
Righteousness He will maintain.
3. Food He daily gives the hungry,
Sets the mourning prisoner free,
Raises those bowed down with anguish,
Makes the sightless eyes to see,
Well Jehovah loves the righteous,
And the stranger He befriends,
Helps the fatherless and widow,
Judgment on the wicked sends.
4. Hallelujah, praise Jehovah,
O my soul, Jehovah praise
; I will sing the glorious praises
Of my God through all my days.
Over all God reigns forever,
Through all ages He is King;
Unto Him, thy God, O Zion,
Joyful hallelujahs sing.
©1982 Darwin Jordan Music
I don't like the fact that they've gone away from the older language, at all. When I read and memorize the Bible, I like the idea that previous generations read and learned the same words, and that my children, and their children, will do so as well -- and the same thing goes for Psalter versions.
I don't think I have to belabor the obvious, that there is a difference from employing older forms and patterns of speech (which have entered into common ecclesiastical usage in many quarters), and employing an entirely different language (Hebrew vs. English).Is there anything better about the older language other than that it is older? Would it be better if we learned and sang the Pslams in their original language?
If what you are expressing is sheer personal preference, I totally respect that. Like those who just prefer the language of the KJV. But I take objection to any notion that the common language of the day is somehow lesser.
Randy,I think the main objection to the 1973 RPCNA Psalter (and several Covenanters will give you the same sentiment) was the NIV-like translation of the Psalms and their being put to metrical verse. Hopefully this new version has corrected some of the language/translation.
Pastor Richard Bacon attempted to correct this problem with the Comprehensive Psalter. Not sure how successful in terms of sales or acceptance that psalter has been, but the intent was to try and remain as faithful to the original Hebrew as possible.
You raise an interesting question. If a person of today who ordinarily uses modern-day English employs "older forms" of speech in addressing God in prayer; does this not constitute a valid, recognizable feature of modern-day English? I know that many today don't do this; but it should be pointed out that the Revised Version (1881) and American Standard Version (1901) both employed this language throughout; and that the old version of the New American Standard Bible (which I've seen still used in a few different churches) employed this language when addressing God. Obviously, these versions of Scripture were not employing this language because of the preponderance of Elizabethan English in the target culture(s) -- except in what might be called ecclesiastical language, or the language of piety. If this is still the case, there is no reason to maintain that the language of modern-day English be used as an excuse to abandon the Authorized Version of Scripture, or the Scottish Metrical Psalter.
Again, it's not an issue of whether God is addressed in a different form in Hebrew (or Greek); it's an issue of whether there is a discernably different form in which He is addressed in our own modern-day English -- and I just illustrated another way in which pronouns for God differ from pronouns for others: we tend to capitalize He, Him, His, etc. when referring to God in modern-day English. The original texts make no such distinction.In the Hebrew and Greek texts is God addressed using a different form?
Personally, I'm all for keeping language up to date so long as the meaning can be preserved. Eventually we all end up translating the archaic language in our heads anyway. At least I do!
Personally, I'm all for keeping language up to date so long as the meaning can be preserved. Eventually we all end up translating the archaic language in our heads anyway. At least I do!
I think the fact that we translate the language in our heads is a reason to keep the older language. Assuming that the personal translation you're referring to is rather intuitive or immediate, of course. If people had to translate in their heads, and it took them, say, 5-10 seconds for each phrase, then that would call for a change in the text.
Memorizing Scripture and memorizing Psalms -- and memorizing them verbatim -- are hugely important; therefore I dislike modifications of the wording, especially when we are completely capable of understanding the older terminology with negligible difficulty.
Psalm 5:1-7, actually... we've been using a few selections from the new Psalter in worship for the past several months, and just sang that one yesterday. Don't get me wrong... it's a great tune, and I've always loved Simon and Garfunkel... but I kind of get flashbacks to my parents' old church, that used modified forms of Neil Diamond's "I'm a Believer" and Bobby Darin's "Why Must I Be a Teenager in Love" in the worship service.I will find it hard to sing Psalm 4 (I think it was Psalm 4) to the tune "Scarborough Fair." Although it is a lovely tune. I do find Sean's protest interesting, and that it is the younger generation that wants the old wording.
Nathan,
Do you guys site read at home or have a piano to figure the tunes out? I want to start singing them right away with my family but won't know what tunes to use.