Lost in Translation

A reader send me a link to the following story. By now I am sure many people have seen the story about the "Good as New" Bible translation by a former Baptist Minister. The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams is reportedly backing this version and has said it is a "vehicle for thinking."

This version is pretty funny and I would have a hard time coming up with a better parody then was achieved. The St. Paul quotes are strait from Bizarro world.

"If you know you have strong needs, get yourself a partner. Better than being frustrated"

"There's nothing wrong with remaining single, like me. But if you know you have strong needs, get yourself a partner. Better than being frustrated,"

This version is so bad he could probably submit a resume to ICEL and be accepted.

In the past they were some unfortunate printer errors in the printing of Bibles. One of the most famous is the so-called “Adultery Bible” of 1641 where the printer left out the word not from Exodus 20:14. He was fined 300 pounds. Nowadays he would probably be given a 300 pound bonus. In 1702 a Bible was printed where Psalm 119:161 which read “Printers have persecuted me without cause.” (that should have been “princes”.) I think that Jeff Culbreath might have an opposite take on this passage.

I think the funniest modern translation is that of Psalm 23 in the New American Bible, which is owned by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

A psalm of David. 2 The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.

In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me;

I have humorously heard this referred to as the "Cow Translation" Can you imagine King David grazing in the pasture? I guess he had been living too long among sheep and had developed bad eating habits. No wonder he wasn't at the dinner table when the prophet Samuel came to anoint him.