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How Does the ISV Translate Old
Testament Poetry?
It was a great pleasure to discover your web site this morning, and read
about the ISV. I want to express my appreciation at the efforts to
translate the Bible in such a manner as you have done. Having been back in
the States on furlough for only a few months, I have not had occasion to
review the NT translation until now. I haven't had the time to study it in
any detail, but I did read a few passages from your web site this morning.
Overall, I did enjoy what I read.
I also read with interest some
of the discussion concerning the use of rhyming verse in translating NT
poetry. On the whole, as far as the NT is concerned, I do think you are on
the right track. I do like the short, two-line poems you have used in
Paul's writings. I am not sure how I like the translation of Philippians 2,
but I am still reflecting on that one. My concerns are more about the
possible concessive idea of the participle "uparchon" in verse 6 than about
the form of the translation.
But my real concern, and
my reason for writing, has to do with the translation of OT poetry. Does
the committee plan on using rhyming verse to translate the Psalms, the
Proverbs, or the poetical sections of the prophets? It seems to me that
this is a different situation than what one finds in the short poetical
sections of the NT. How does the OT translation team view Hebrew poetry, or
more specifically, the existence or non-existence of meter in Hebrew
poetry? Do preliminary translations of OT books exist on your web site for
review yet?
Thank you again for your
efforts to translate Scriptures into English. May the Lord bless your
efforts, and be glorified in the spreading of His Word.
First of all there is not and there is
meter in OT Hebrew poetry. Before you say that I am writing "double
speak", let me explain what I mean. There are different kinds of Hebrew
poetry. Wisdom literature is often in poetic form, but this type of
poetry is different from the poetry you would find in the Psalms.
Sometimes Hebrew poetry can be rhymed, but most of the time it is
difficult to so do. If one takes an acrostic overlay of Hebrew poetry, as
is in the Book of Lamentations, and tries to translate the acrostic style
in poetic form, the result will fail.
On the other hand, poetry style is
different from prose, and thus has to be evident in the English
translation. The "bottom line" of English translation policy of Hebrew
poetry has to be related to the specific section of Hebrew poetry being
translated. If that section shows some meter, then the translators will
attempt to capture that in the English translation.
You raise good questions, for which
there are no simple answers.
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