The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-16

of 1884 The whole Bible, after these twelve
years of labor appears in its revised English
version at this time before the people of Great
Britain and America. This revised version is
now q fact of history. Those who
have labored in the preparation of it have
carefully and conscientiousy examined and re-
examined every verse, and sentence, and word.
They now commit il to the Euglishspeaking
world. That it will meet unfavorable criticism
sometimes severe, sometimes thoughtless, some
times from the conservative and sometimes from
the progressive side--as a part of it has already
met such criticism, they do not doubt but they
intrust it to the future, knowing that the book
will live, while the critics will die, and wishing
only that their labors may contribute In tins
generation, or tho coming ones, to make the
Scriptures clearer in their true meaning to all
men Of the English race.
SOME OF THE CHANGES MADE.
The Bible appears bound with the New Tesla
ment The preface opens with a statement of
the general principles which the revision has
been conducted The revisers have borne in
mind their duty not to make new translation,
but to revise that already existing and have de-
parted from it only where it disagreed with the
translation of 1611 upon the meaning Of a word
or sentence. Where it is doubtful, or there is an
alternative the rendering is given in the mar
gin. In some words of frequent occurrence, the
authorized edition being either inadequate or in
much uniformity as practicable. For instance,
Tabernacle of the congregation" has been every
where changed to tent of meeting" In regard
to the word Jehovah the usage of the author
ICED version is followed, the revisers not think
ing it advisable to insert it uniformly in place of
Lord or God, which, when printed in small
capitals, represent the words substituted
by Jewish custom for the ineffable name
IN three seem to have been generally introduced
The word grove Judges vi. g. has been re-
placed by ''ashera, with its plurals ''asherini'
and Ashcroft In the poetical books, "sheor
replaces ''hell," which has been changed in prose
:'sheol" in the margin. "Of these renderings,
HELL" saws the preface ''if it could be taken in
it's original sense, as used in the creeds,
Hwould be fairly adequate equivalent for
the Hebrew word, but it is so commonly under
stood as the place of torment that to employ it
frequently would lead to inevitable msunder-
standing"
In Isaiah xiv, where she'll" is used in more Of
its original sense, the revisers have left hell
In the text, putting 'sheof in the margin.
s'Abaddon," which has hitherto been known to
English readers of the Bible only from the New
Testament Revelations TX, IL J, has been intro
duced in three passages, once In Job and twice
In Proverbs.
The term 'smeat Offering" has been changed
TO ''meal Offering" the former term hav-
ing ceased to be the generic name
for all food. A plural lpeoples) has
Deen
this becomes gentiies when the contrast to the
chosen people is marked. All headings of
chapters have been dropped and the chapters
divided into paragraphs, but the old chapter and
verse divisions have been retained in the margin
for the convenience of readers. By this means
the revisers have been enabled to rejoin Psalm
to Psalm tx, and Psalm xiii to Psalm
xii, and to begin Isaiah lii at chapter
lii, verse Is. Too several days of creation are
made more prominent by breaks of line be-
fha od
the revisers to make use OF the dialogue form,
and to show the dramatic character Of the Song
OF Solomon. the first chapter of which, for ex-
ample, is divided into seven speeches The
Psalms are definitely divided into FIVE books,
the last four beginning respectively at
Psalm Kill xiii, xc and evil A striking
Improvement is the printing of all poetical
passages in poetical form. This has been done
In the Psalms Proverbs, Job and the Canticles,
but the Prophets have been left in pIose, how
ever passionate their oratory. The songs of
Lamech, Jacob, Miriam, Moses, Deborah and
Hannah the Psalms of Jonah and Habakkuk,
s spe pAd Ia 7sfsed ballads sAm Tse
origin of Joshuas miracle, "Sun, stand
thou upon Gibeon," is indicated by its verse
character; so, also, is the triumphal cry of Sam
son Judges XIV, l6.) Examination OF the more
familiar passages and phrases discloses the fact
that care was taken in preserving intact house
hold words of the Old Testament The old
literary form has been held sacred, and the re-
visers cannot be charged with any pedantic
straining after the original text but not all the
familiar features of the Scripture have escaped
untouched The high priest no longer casts lots
for the scapegoats; he does so for season.
The summary of each days work at the crea-
ton runs according to the formula, 'And there
was evening and there was morning, one day"
There was evening and there was
morning a second day." a third day, and
90 on, giving a suggestion of successive
stages with long intervals The "apple of
sc Wv I acod
In figured work" of silver, mot pictures
vanity and vexation of spirit" of Ecclessiates
III, Ii has become vanity and striving after
wind" Reuben's curse, Genesis xix, verse
now reads Unstable as water, have not thou
the excellency."
The following changes also CRATE against
old associations; the authorized version of Gen
esis, chapter VII 4: ssThere were giants in the
earth in those days." is revised 1.-The nephelim
were in the earth in those days" In the author
lied edition. Job, XXI, 35: "Oh that one would
hear me; behold, my desire is that the Almighty
would answer me, and that mine adversary had
written book is revised: ''Oh, that one would
hear me; behold my desire is that the Almighty
would answer me, and that / had the
indictment which my adversary hath written"
The authorized Psalm viii, verse 5, For thou
hast made Him little lower than the angels"
is revised, For thou hast made Him little
lower than God" The authorized Psalm cxxi,
verse ii, II said in my haste. all men are
liars" is revised, II said when / made
haste to escape, all men are lie."
Ecclesastes xii, 3D. LET us hear the conclu-
sion of the whole matter, fear God" etc., has
been revised to read: This is the end of the
matter; all hath been heard; fear Gcd," etc.
Proverbs xiv 8: Fools make mock at sin,
but among the righteous there is favor, revised,
reads: The foolish scorn the guilt offering,
but among the upright there is good will"
The above are nearly all of the passages in
which a shock is given to old associations. In
other passages there are found variations which
cannot be called rash alterations; for instance,
In Isaiah ill., ID, in the authorized version it
reads. Behold my servant shall deal
and be very high The revised reads: BE
hold my servant shall deal wisely; be shall be
Aifted up, and shall be very high" Isaiah lii,
8. In the authorized version is, He is despised
and rejected Of men; man of sorrows and ac-