Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-12-16
THE IMPROvEDr NEW TESTAMENT.

uOet readers are aWare-that book has beer
published in Boston, which purports to be lin.
proved translation of the New Testament Scrip.
lures" The publishers heralded the work IL
An elaborate prospectus, in which the favorable
testimonials of some of our most eminent di
vines were quoted. 1t was promised that ali
the errors in the common version should be
reetifed, and that all vulgar passages should
be excluded, or something to that effect. We
objected, at the tine, to this attempt to popu.
larise such an addition Of the Scriptures. Since
the book has been published we have examined
It's pages and are more than ever convinced
that IL is q book mot fit to be made.n 1t "a
dead failure. We are told in the preface that
1t is an independent translation. We are in.
clined to think, from internal evidence, that il
is no translation at all, but is merely the old
translation into which changes have been intro.
duced Of words and phrases, and in evory in.
stance for the worse.
Without denying the right of any biblical
scholar to exercise his mind upon the text OF
ths Holy Scriptures, for the purpose of finding
lts entire purity and integrity, il is competent
ior us, In our editorial supervisory character,
TO Int up the voice of warning against what we
deem to be an improper tampering with, and
alteration of it, especially when those who have
made the alterations, boldly claim that they
praises Of all Christian people. We have not
room to 60 into any lengthy examination Of
the work before US, but shall confine our attsn-
ton, for the purpose Of showing what it is, to a
few prominent defects, in some of the most
prominent portions of the New Testament.
Christs Sermon on the Mount has always
been considered as the most perfect lesson
which our Language contains. Its terseness
and simplicity are incompatible. tits mon
ument Of Divine wisdom and is worthy of its
subject and its author. He must be bold
man who undertakes to alter il and improve
upon it. But our translator has made the at
tempt. Let us see with what success. In the
common version We read
aye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt
has lost its SAVIOUR wherewith shall it be salted?
Ii is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be
cast out, and trodden under the foot of men,"
The new version has it
"YOu are the salt of the earth; but if the salt
has lost its strength, with what shall it be sea-
soned II Ia good for nothing more except be-
ing cast out and trodden upon by men"
Again, in the common version
''Ye are the light Of the world; city that il
set on hill cannot be hid. Neither do men
light candle, and put it under a bushel, but
on candlestick; and 1t giveth light to all who
are in the house,
Now see how our new translator has contriyed
to mar this passage
"You are the light of the world. A city SIT
uated on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither
do men light candle and put Ii under a mo-
dius, but on candlestick, and it shines to all
in the house."
The common version reads
"Ye have heard that il was said by those of
old time, Thou shalt not kill: and whosoever
kills shall be in danger Of the Judgment, But
/ say unto you that whosoever is angry with
bis brother without a cause, shall be in danger
Of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to
his brother Raoa, shall be in danger of the
Council; but whosoever shall say, Thou fool
shall be in danger of hell fire."
The new translator has contrived to intro
duce the following worthless" changes
You have heard that it was said by the
nncients, You shall not kill, and whosoever
kills shall be subject to the judgment. But /
tell you that every one who is angry With his
brother shall be subject to the judgment; and
whosoever says to his brother, W Worthless fell
low, shall be subject to the Sanhedrim, and
whoever says, You fool, shall be subject to hell
fire."
Tho Lords Prayer Is shamefully marred by
our translator. Here it is, shorn OF its proper
tions, as the new TRANSLATION gives it:
Pray, therefore, thus Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy
will be done, rs in heaven, 50 on earth; give us
10 day our essential bread, and forgive us our
not into trial, but deliver us from evil"
This is the whole of the prayer. When John
the Baptist was engaged in his mission as a
forerunner, he exclaimed according to our YER
sion
90 generation Of vipers who hath warned
you to fee from the wrath to come? Bring
forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance. Z"
Our translator renders il thus
Offspring Of vipers, who has warned you to
Zee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits,
therefore, worthy Of change Of mind
So, too, on the great day Of Penticost when
Peter cried out to those who wero pricked in
the heart, Repent and be baptized, every one
OF you" our new light has:
Hearing this they were distressed in mind,
and Peter said to them Change your minds,
&c.
Sturdy old Paul, one of the best orators of
bis, or any other age, would shake in his bones
If they were together now, to read how his an
ished and nervous speech before King Agrippa
is translated here, and he would anathemati re
the daring fellow who has spoiled and weakened
his strong and powerful epistles, by Introducing
changes which make them dull and milk and
waterish. We have no room for more extracts
But We have given enough, We think, to show
the entire foolishness Of this new translation -
Boston Herald.
. SPIRITUAL LABIALArIoN 1T Ia stated that an