As I read today’s reading, I realized that, while I knew the story, the Elizibethan phrasing in the King James version was so dense and archaic, that I barely knew what was going on. This brought up the issue of which translation to read:
The pilgrims and the founders used the Geneva Bible of 1599: they never accepted the King James version as it was a product of the Church of England.
The most popular version in America is currently the New Revised Standard version, published in 1963 and again in 1995. This is purported as the most accurate English translation of original Greek and Aramaic sources.
A compelling version is the New International version, also based on Greek and Aramaic sources, but with the goal of using plan, contemporary English.
It truly comes down to a matter of faith: will anything be lost in choosing one translation over another?
The Geneva Bible is lovely, austere, and I appreciate that the pilgrims were using it. The KJV has a Shakespearian poetry that I’ve come to admire and find comforting, though, as narrative, I miss a lot. The NRSV, while popular, still dips into anachronism. The NIV seems to be a solid translation and is the most accessible.
Let’s take the passage from Genesis 18 where God considers destroying Sodom:
16 Afterward, the men did rise up from thence, and looked toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. 17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do, 18 Seeing that Abraham shall be indeed a great and a mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 For I know him that he will command his sons and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and judgment, that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that he hath spoken unto him.
20 Then the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is exceeding grievous, 21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to
Geneva Bible 1599
that cry, which is come unto me; and if not, that I may know.
16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. 17 And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; 18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
20 And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; 21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
King James Version
16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17 The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 No, for I have chosen him, that he may charge his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice; so that the Lord may bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”
20 Then the Lord said, “How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! 21 I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know.”
New Revised Standard Version
16 When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. 17 Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? 18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.
19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”
20 Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”
New International Version