New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-06
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
PROFESSOR DE WITS TRANSLATION OF
THE PSALMS.

Essay and Notes BY John Dewitt D. D., LII d.
J.. II. ID: ouarto. PIP. xxxvi, 49, Arson ~ r.
Randolph a. Co.
Dr. Dewitt is the senior professor in the theological
seminary at New Brunswick, " j., and was mcmoef
of tie Old Testament Revision Company. In both ca
pacities he has achieved distinction as ripe schoar
aud an plished nguist lie has for many years
n,.do special study of the Psalms, wmch mas c"nn
M In the present excellent translation nsiaton
:, once literary and rhythmical. In his INTRODUCTORY
essay he discusses clearly and forcioy some oi '"o
drcutes which confront the translator OF inc fs@i''
Itcr- is hrs: OF all the difficulty winch exsts III uo
ca ef all TRANSACTIONS. OF reproducing the saoue spun
Of tie original in alien tongue wltiout sacrhoine
rhythm aud cuphony. On the whole Professor Dc"iV0
A:s surrountcd this Nncuty most happily ana some
OF his renseIngs, while expressing the exact inean"s
OF The original reproduce also its melodlc beauty anu
rhythm I'm a remarkable way -
Its tie peculiar glory Of the Psalms that thcy nave
occupied high place In the affections not only oi
Jews but of Christians Under the generic name 0.
the Psalms Of David they prominent part OF
the synagogue worship, and from the earliest umeS
they have been loved by Christians. Nevermeless'
there is great deal Of popular Ignorance in regard 10
these ancient Hebrew lyrics. In the first place there
is excellent internal evidence for believing that INC
Psalms as now have them, are rearrahsemen'
made by ancient turgss and musicians in order 10
sdapt them TO the worship Of the synagogue. some
Psalms were divided and others were united ihe
Nineteenth Psalm for instance. Is probably maae up
Of Psalms written In different periods. OF course no
Intelligent person needs be told that David ola not
write all the Psalms. AS matter of fact they were
written by many authors, some Of whom are unknown.
Even the Psalms ascribed to Asaph were clearly not
all written by man or In one age LIE
same is true Of the songs Of Korah so that the
inscriptions In the Bible do not necessarily hdicste
authorship What is likely is that in dinerent penods
of Jewish history David, Korah Asaph and others col
he OF the people together, anu
perhaps set them to appropriate music. Naturally
and properly the collection would bear the name Oh
the editor Therefore, when a Psalm is ascroed TO
David ii means that it was found IN inc DOCK OF
songs, which David compiled. Nhe'her IL was
actually written by David or not can sometimes Dc
determined by internal evidence and sometimes on
the other hand, it cannot. But IN any event. the
question of authorship has proper relation TO the
questions Of authenticity and inspiration The Fifty
first Psa'm or tile Twenty third Psalm, for instance,
would not be one whit less deserving OF the venera-
ton and love Of Chrisendom if it were actually proved
that David did not write ii. This Is said be
cause IL is frequently charged against the critics that
In DENYING certain popular beliefs to the age and
authorship OF the Psalms they are asSailing their
Divine origin. This is far from being the case In
fact truer knowledge of the Psalms and Of the cir
cumstances under which they written only
serves TO stimulate our interest in them
No consideration Of the Psalms would be complete
Etbout a word said about the so-called mprecatoIy
Psalms II seems to that Professor De Wits treat
ment Of this difficult subject not entirely satisfactory
The question is How shall reconcile the bitter
hatred and vengeful tone OF these Psalms with the
theory of their Divine inspiration AS Professor De
Witt nuts IT, we face the paradox that the God OF
1--we has nut into our lips words of hatred and wrath
And he meets the case by saying that the persons
denounced in these Psalms were as noxious as Wild
beasts and deserved more consideration; furtner-
more they represented a malignity OF evil which all
good men must hate and denounce But this plea
hardly meets the difficulty These Psalms heaped curses
on the heads of enemies, and on their face they
ae ont Of harmony with the spirit and practice of Chs
tanty 1t has been urged Of that they represent
the ethical standard of the time, which confcssedly
lower than that OF to-day. But Professor De Witt
hesates to press this point, feeling doubtless that
It might impugn the Divine inspiration of the Psalms
in question.
40 daughter OF Babylon excaims the inspired
penman in the Hundred and Thirty eighth Psalm 20
daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, blest
is he that requites thee That does unto thee as thou
ddst unto us Blest is he that shall seze and dash
down thy babes on rock
In any other book should say that such an
utterance was pure savagery; and the difficulty of
planning its presence in the Bible without giving up
the traditional view of inspiration is tremendous if
not impossible. Probably the only way ont
is that suggested by Professor De Witt.
when he says that such passages express poetic
Justice and are not to be pressed too closely rs
facts. They express no mere human passion but are
impassioned prophecies uttered in the name of Him
to whom alone vengeance belongs If this does not get
rid of the difficulty, 1t at least minmlzes ii, and will
doubtless satisfy Christians whose faith is robust
Others who cannot be so easily satisfied can well
afford forget the imprecations of few Psalms, as
they dwell the exquisite beauty, lofty aspiration
and sweet idylnc simplicity Of these sacred songs of
an ancient people.