New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-04
THE POLYCHROME BIBLE.
AN INTERESTING EDITION OF BOTH
TESTAMENTS.

THE SACRED BOOKS OF THE OLD T ANp NEW
,Un hNPsTsS9 BY 0 EminSnt Biblical scholar,
assjstsnce Of Horace Howard Furness, by Paul
Haupt Professor in me !Ohns Ho bc;ayo u nj
xii. 81: xii. 2i6 xii 2s7 Dodd Mead & co.
The projectors OF this work make their appeal lor
public recognition on two grounds. First that a
new translation OF the Scriptures In modern idio-
matte English and embodying the most approved
conclusions OF Biblical research Is needed; and sec
ondly that the translation herewith presented oy
them meets these conditions AS 10 the hrst point
there will be no serious difference OF opinion.
Every intelligent Christian knows that the So
called King James authorized translation does
not in many instances give he true sense Oh 'no
original Its English. noble and unapproachapis
though II IS is not modern, and. In fact many
words that occur in 1t are completely oosoie'e'
while the meaning Of others has become very nuen
modified Even the old-time use OF thee and
thou" In spite OF much that may be said in us
favor has undoubtedly done much 10 make ue
Bible an unreal book 10 average men ana women
divine revelation II Is true. but related In no way
10 the actual life OF modern men and women.
Moreover the original ext OF the Biblical
books ha. been much improved by the ex-
animation and collation. OF manuscripts not ac-
cessible to the King James translators' IN we"
OF these facts there be no question that chris
t!ans who believe the Bible TO be a divine reVeia-
imperfect rendering of the sacred record. Inc
nlaoe OF the King James Bible as an English
classic 4. secure but II does not to-day convey the
message of tho original text 10 the average man
who read. Il. The revised version OF 1881 was
ster In the right direction. but 1t was eoniesse1y
only a revision Of the Enslish tranS~uoh anu '
an independent translation.
The need OF new TRANSLATION OF the bioio io'
the better understanding of It's real meaning De
Ing admitted. the question remains 70 De answered.
whether the Polychrome Bible VIII prove 10 po
such & translation With only three numoets al
hand we confess ourselves unable to answer inc
question conclusivey: but The impression con-
viewed nv All examination OF these numbers is' on
the whole distinctly favorable. The men 10 "hohi
has been intrusted the task OF uafsiauns '"'
various books of the Old Testament arc among
the greatest Biblical scholars in the world ms
E,cIisb NJ these three numbers Is clear and lido
matte while by dropping the old knghsh OK
ple,ives 10" behold and II came 10 pass as
well as the conjunction and" so often USED IN the
authorized version. the narrative Is CONDENSED anu
clarified Nor is the new translation deficient IN
rhythm. There passages in the foychfom7
Psalms Isaiah and in Judges, that for state
ly and musical cadence Will compare favoraoy with
similar passages IN the authorized version Here
for instance. is a bit OF the Polychrome Uahs-
lation OF Isaiahs parable of the vineyard
A song will sing Of my friend,
a love-song touching his vineyard
A VINEYARD belongs 10 my friend.
He dirg ;t'ai it, and cleared I Of stones;
And planted there vines that are choce
A tower he buili In the midst,
And hewed also therein wine-vst
And he looked 10 find grapes that are good
Alas. 1t bore grapes that are WIG
ye. IN Jerusalem dwelling
And ye. who are fTeemen OF JUDAH
And my cherished vineyard.
What could have been done for my vineyard
THAT had not Done go. ,ho. ar. yood
Why bore it grapes that are wild?
The same prophets prediction concerning Tyre is
nus rendered:
In that dey Tyre will pass into oblivion for sew
,nty years during the reign OF one me OF kihsS az
Harlot in the song
Take thy lu;e. and go about the city
Harlot. forgotten now by men ,
Play thou with skill. sing many atty
To win remembrance then
And here is a part of the song in Isaiah XIV, /;
Hence to Thee they give honor and praise
The tyrants fear Thee all their days,
Because Thou hast shown Thy right hano.
Asa fortress to the weak Thou art made,
A fortress to the poor in his woe ~
A refuge from storms, al noontide shade
But insoient pride Thou laidst low.
We must content ourselves with only two more
quotations both from the Book OF Judges. The
first Is a passage from the song OF Deborah:
Her hand she puts forth TO the pin
Vor right hand 20 the.
s s6S,t ,4ltT pie Tcesn his ne temple e
, sr feet a hi ss a a yoW of hs bere
Through the window peered and
The mother Of Sisera through the lattlce3
WHY his ehariots 50 iong ii, IN coming sHrtns,
Why tarries the tramplng OF ms horses!
The ws wise % sg Par TsTd hs2ses
"They mus; be finding. dividing the spoil
foo wsns q S Or two su f3T sacs s5 @sR
A piece OF embroidery or two for the neck o. -
ne enc ii,
But be Thy friends as the sun when ne rises IN
power
The second is the riddle OF Samson whloh Is thus
metrically rendered;
On, n. the eater came something to eat,
And out Of the strong came something sweet
And after the Phistines answered it, with the
help OF his wife. ne exclaimed:
II with my heller we did not plough.
Ye had not found out my riddle, trow.
rb... are on the whole. fair specimen. of the
1ro-l, OF these ranslstors and they show at least
that IL is smooth and euphonious
How far Il accurately represents the original text
q. a question that hardly care TO answer. But
this much may be said: The translation lie being
made by representative Biblical scholars whose
names are a guarantee OF scholarship and honesty.
They have made verbal corrections in the original
Hebrew and Greek texts. in accordance with the
best critical evidence. Their sole aim has been TO
give the real Bible TO English readers. The sober
and reverent conclusions Of such men cannot be
Nrushec aside as OF 10 importance and. though
doubtless their Judgment may be at fault here and
:here the translation which they are making will
throw new ligh, on the Bible. H. as matter Of
fact they have succeeded in giving more nearly
than ever before the exact English equivalent OF
the original then every believer in the Bible as the
Word Of God owes them deep debt Of gratitude
Il is likely. however that the Polychrome feature
of this translation will appeal most Immediately
TO ths general public The theory Of the composite
character OF many Of the old Testament books has
at last fought its way into general recognition
In brief this theory is that the writer's Of certain
books constructed their narrative by piecing to-
gether less skiifClly various old documents
or traditions. and that IN many instances stnl
later editor redactor added words or passages
that In his opinion made the meaning more clear.
OF course. IL is always possible 10 separate this