IT V. BIBLE REVISION AND THE PSALMS. T is proposed in this paper to begin with Bible Revision in its general aspects, and then to offer some thoughts upon the revision of the Psalms. The completion of the Revised New Testament, after more than seven years' labor, gives great satisfaction on all sides. At first, there was some complaining against the secrecy imposed upon the Revisers. But a fuller knowledge of their plan and methods has produced apparent acquiescence. Inasmuch as the rules contemplate successive revisions by the companies, before a final vote, and everything is provisional and undetermined till such vote is taken, it seemed better that they should come to an agreement among themselves before inviting outside opinion. This òbviates much profitless discussion, with possible prejudice, over proposals many of which are merely tentative and will never be adopted. The long suspense, however, with scanty information about the progress of the work, has stimulated the desire of all interested in it, to know what conclusions have been reached, and presently the Revision of the New Testament will be upon trial. Those by whom the labor has been performed, can neither affect indifference nor presume a favorable verdict. Their task in its magnitude, difficulties, and abundant compensations, has exceeded all their thoughts. The call came unexpectedly, and they obeyed it as from God. As they advanced, their interest deepened and their hearts warmed. It cannot be otherwise, when men of like faith and hope engage continuously in such work. There can scarcely be one of them who has not become more catholic, who has not been drawn into closer sympathy with those whose theological definitions differ somewhat, not one who has not been greatly profited in various ways by this employment. They have been encouraged by the hearty appreciation of an increasing multitude of the best men, although a multitude not inferior in gifts, grace, or influence, were looking on doubtfully. They could only leave the issue with God, satisfied that those who were not yet heartily with them, were willing to wait patiently without committing themselves to absolute dissent and opposition. Many of these are now ready to welcome and to adopt the new version if found worthy. Everywhere increased interest is manifest, and general expectation of a satisfactory result. Not a few are prepared to endorse the Revision in advance, and to institute measures tending to its immediate adoption, as a substitute for the English Bible now in use. Meanwhile the Revisers themselves are less sanguine, and regard such proposals as premature. Willing that the public should be predisposed to kind judgment, and supremely anxious that their labor shall prove to have been not in vain, they greatly prefer a suspension even of decisively favorable judgment until their work has been carefully examined. They scarcely dare form a positive opinion. They can only claim to have labored faithfully in reliance upon Divine help, realizing more fully than most others the inherent difficulty that lies in the way of their success. It is not principally philological, as if depending upon unknown forms and intricate constructions in the original languages of Scripture, or upon want of flexibility and copiousness in our own tongue. It lies in the necessity of giving a single version that shall harmonize and satisfy widely discordant views. If a version could be produced that should give in English an impress of inspired thought, originally conveyed in Hebrew and Greek, as exact as the imitation of writing or picture by photograph, this would be the consummation of all possible desire. But in the organic and radical differences of the languages involved, it would require a greater miracle than inspiration itself. It is universally agreed, that the highest attainable excellence is to be sought, not in a new translation, but in the revision of an English text that is itself the result of revision upon revision, beginning with John Wycliffe's translation from the Latin Vulgate, five hundred years ago. The body of rich, sweet, and pure old Saxon English, in which the thoughts of God stand before our eyes, could not have been collected in the time of King James. His translators, as they are called, say candidly, "We never thought from the beginning that we should need to make a new translation, nor yet to make of a bad one a good one; but to make a good one better, or out of many good ones, one principal good one." So it must continue for the future. We may claim that the Authorized Version admits of great improvement, even beyond what will be reached or is proposed in the present Revision, and yet consistently hold that in its body and substance it is incomparable and can never be set aside. Yet views may differ widely as to how far revision should go. Many would be glad to see a version in which the changes should be far more numerous than is possible under the restrictive rules that have been adopted. But it is certain that no revision that proposes any but the most carefully guarded departures from the Authorized Version could be accepted. The very conservative rules adopted by the Convocation of Canterbury, in 1870, under which the British and American Companies have consented to work, propose "to introduce as few changes as possible consistent with faithfulness." By implication they forbid the attempt to give the best possible translation into the English tongue, commanding the highest regard in the choice of language for "the Authorized and earlier versions." In order to make sure that no changes shall be made that are not imperative, it is provided that no alteration shall be finally adopted except by a majority of two-thirds. This rule, added to the attachment to our dear old English Bible, which none feel more strongly than the Revisers, gives ample security against rash innovation. But these judicious rules present no fixed standard by which the Revisers may be governed, or may be judged. It could not be otherwise. The multitudes whose competence to judge intelligently is indisputable, have no criterion save the opinion of the individual. This might be quite different if he had set himself down with the Revisers to the actual work. It might have been greatly modified by continued. thought and investigation, especially when tested by the con They have been encouraged by the hearty appreciation of an increasing multitude of the best men, although a multitude not inferior in gifts, grace, or influence, were looking on doubtfully. They could only leave the issue with God, satisfied that those who were not yet heartily with them, were willing to wait patiently without committing themselves to absolute dissent and opposition. Many of these are now ready to welcome and to adopt the new version if found worthy. Everywhere increased interest is manifest, and general expectation of a satisfactory result. Not a few are prepared to endorse the Revision in advance, and to institute measures tending to its immediate adoption, as a substitute for the English Bible now in use. news Meanwhile the Revisers themselves are less sanguine, and any regard such proposals as premature. Willing that the public shou should be predisposed to kind judgment, and supremely an ictive ious that their labor shall prove to have been not in vai revisi they greatly prefer a suspension even of decisively favo depar able judgment until their work has been carefully examine The They scarcely dare form a positive opinion. They c of Can only claim to have labored faithfully in reliance upon Div Comp help, realizing more fully than most others the inherent die as few culty that lies in the way of their success. It is not pri implic pally philological, as if depending upon unknown forms ble tran intricate constructions in the original languages of Script or upon want of flexibility and copiousness in our own ton It lies in the necessity of giving a single version that harmonize and satisfy widely discordant views. By ghest r and e shall no alt Revisers If a version could be produced that should give in En of two. an impress of inspired thought, originally conveyed in old E brew and Greek, as exact as the imitation of writing or ure by photograph, this would be the consummation possible desire. But in the organic and radical differe judi of the languages involved, it would require a greate Revise acle than inspiration itself. It is universally agreed, th be oth highest attainable excellence is to be sought, not intelige translation, but in the revision of an English text that i of the result of revision upon revision, beginning with setWycliffe's translation from the Latin Vulgate, five h years ago. The body of rich, sweet, and pure 501 English, in which the thoughts of God stand before our eyes, could not have been collected in the time of King James. His translators, as they are called, say candidly, "We never thought from the beginning that we should need to make a new translation, nor yet to make of a bad one a good one; but to make a good one better, or out of many good ones, one principal good one." So it must continue for the future. We may claim that the Authorized Version admits of great improvement, even beyond what will be reached or is proposed in the present Revision, and yet consistently hold that in its body and substance it is incomparable and can never be set aside. Yet views may differ widely as to how far revision should go. Many would be glad to see a version in which the changes should be far more numerous than is possible under the restrictive rules that have been adopted. But it is certain that no revision that proposes any but the most carefully guarded departures from the Authorized Version could be ccepted. The very conservative rules adopted by the Conocation of Canterbury, in 1870, under which the British and merican Companies have consented to work, propose "to troduce as few changes as possible consistent with faithfuless. By implication they forbid the attempt to give the st possible translation into the English tongue, commandthe highest regard in the choice of language for "the thorized and earlier versions." In order to make sure that changes shall be made that are not imperative, it is prothat no alteration shall be finally adopted except by ority of two-thirds. This rule, added to the attachment dear old English Bible, which none feel more strongly the Revisers, gives ample security against rash innova these judicious rules present no fixed standard by the Revisers may be governed, or may be judged. It not be otherwise. The multitudes whose competence ge intelligently is indisputable, have no criterion save pinion of the individual. This might be quite different had set himself down with the Revisers to the actual It mi been greatly modified by continued , especially when tested by the con Et an |