Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-03-10
BURMAN TRANSLATION OF
THE BIBLE.

BURMAN TRANSLATION OF
THE BIBLE.
In the Christian Review, we find an
able article upon the Burman Transla-
ton; and intend to lay before our readers
so much of the article, as relates to the
subject lately decided by the Board of
Managers of the American Bible Society,"
Christian Watchmam.
We now approach very important part
of the subject. Taking it for granted, that
the translation and printing of the Word
of God into the hundreds if not thousands
of dialects, which are not yet made the We
hcles of divine truth, must be performed
mainly by missionaries from christian
countries, two questions arise: |. On
what principles Of Interpretation shall these
translations be made? 2. How far can diff.
ferent denominations ofchristians unite in
spreading the Bible over heather lands?
10 these questions, we propose to give a
reply.
/. On what principles shall the trans
lations be made!
1t might seem, that very easy answer
could be given to this question He who
undertakes to write the Word Of God in
new tongue, assumes the responsibility of
conveying the exact meaning ofthe origin
al text into the new language, so far as
this can be done The meaning of the
Bible is the Bible 1.-THE meaning is con-
veyed, the Bible is translated and that
would be a perfect translation, which
should enable the Burman for example, to
receive exactly the same ideas from his
version, as the Jew received from the He
brew text of the Old Testament, or as the
man to whom the Greek Of the New Tes-
lament was vernacular, obtained from this
volume. The translator must bring all
his knowledge Of languages, all his critic
al skill, and heart constantly disposed to
seek wisdom from above, to the task of ex-
actly conveying the mind of the Holy
Spirit to the people in whose language he
is writing. To alter a fact or doctrine,
by wilful mistranslation, would involve
him IN the awful guilt Of perverting Gods
Word. and jeopardizing the souls of all
who should read that version To leave
a text obscure. which might be made plain
would be treachery. 1t would, in fact, be
failure to translate the Bible, just so far
as the obscurity reached. 1.-THE meaning
OF passage is not conveyed, it might as
we'll be wholly omitted, or left in the orig
lnal text. Just so much of the Word Of
God is lost to the reader of this version
A portion of the light from Heaven is
concealed from his view. He is deprived
ofhis share of the common inheritance
If "a sing lie word is left untranslated, which
could, by a corresponding word, or bv a
: clrcumlocution, be made ineligible, then
a part of the Word Of God is hidden and
lost. A minister, who, in preaching,
voluntarily conceals part of the truth, is
traitor to God, and a cruel deceiver of
men. How much greater is the guilt of
altering or hiding part of the word of
God, IN translation, which may be read
by millions, from generation to genera
ton? 1t was not without necessity, or
fearful significance, that these awful words
We're introduced at the close of the sacred
volume, whether they be understood as re-
terrlng to the whole revelation, or to the
single book of the Apocalypse: Ifanv
man shall add unto these things God shall
add unto him the plaques that arc written
in this book. And if any man shall take
away from the words of the book ofthis
prophecy, God shall take away his part
out of the book of life, and out of the holy
city, and from the things which are written
in this book Rev. %: l8, 10.
The translator must, in fine, place him.
self as nearly as possible in the attitude of
the original WRITER'S as a mere amanuen
sis Of the Holy Spirit, hearkening with
solemn reverence, to hear what God the
Lord will speak, and expressing it, &C.
cording to his best ability, in the language
which he uses. If through ignorance, be
fails 10 communicate the mind of God. alas
for the people who are left to such blind
and presumPtuous guide. If, through
negligence, or prejudice, or sectarian feel.
ings, he alters, or conceaIs the truth, wo to
his own soul A higher crime, a more
dreadful wrong, can scarcely be perpetra-
ted by man.
What, then, is the duty of a translator
belonging to any denomination, who is
about to translate a passage, concerning
which, christians differ in opinion Most
correctly, he ought, in the fear of God to
follow the best lights which he can pro-
cure. If he can form Judgment, salts
factory to his own mind, he ought to pro-
coed, and give that meaning, which he
conscientously believes to bethe true one |
If after all, he should hesitate between