Read the Bible naked
John Hobbins continues his desperate campaign to malign perfectly good Bible translations and offer nothing in exchange but the empty promise of a hypothetical “literary” translation. In a post attacking Wayne Leman’s inspirational post Is the ESV written in beautiful English?, John mocks,
If you are looking for a translation suitable for 4th graders, by all means, the NLT is the way to go. But, when you become a man – or woman, put childish things away.
I know he’s being hyperbolic here, but… grrrrr.
If I put away the NLT I’m left with Bibles written in Biblish. Far better a translation that communicates as clearly as possible without creating deception (a la Challies) about what the original really says.
Let me repeat my comments made at ElShaddai’s blog:
Regarding the excellent CEV and NLT translations, Hobbins sneers,
Their English style is often pedestrian and lacks sparkle.
But the formal alternatives are nothing but pomp and babble. Highfalutin versions are just over-dressed crones at the ball. Beneath their feather boas and elaborate coifs is the same pedestrian body of all the other versions. I’d rather read the Bible naked than have to imagine what is hidden behind the Biblish of so-called “Formal Equivalents.”
Despite all this rattling of sabers, in real life John, Wayne and I are all on the same team in this fight. We all long for a clearly communicative translation that richly reflects the beauty of the original message. And that’s why, push comes to shove, John uses NIV for a pew Bible and hands out NLTs to the kids at his church. And that’s why Wayne and John both contribute suggestions to the ISV translation committee. That’s why I bought copies of the CEV for every member of my family, but I also keep a finger in the NRSV. We love God’s Word and we desire to see it communicated. But at this stage that’s far more likely to happen with a stripped-down “pedestrian” version than the garbled goulash of your average “Formal Equivalent.”
I’m glad there were no photos with this post.
“And grandmother, what a big nose you have!
And grandmother,
what big mouth you have . . . “:
Far better a translation that communicates as clearly as possible
without creating deception (a la Challies) about
what the original really says.
(If only little Red Riding Hood’s parents had communicated as clearly as possible
with Challies chiming in from time to time about
what grandmother’s original letter in Yiddish with a Brooklyn accent really says).
As I remark in an update to the post you respond to:
UPDATE: In response to all of this talk about beautiful English in Bible translation, Lingamish has started reading the Bible in the nude. Not exactly what I had in mind, but at least the climate where David resides permits it. Suzanne McCarthy provides another example of a KJV dynamic equivalent of a Hebrew expression which has rightfully been retained in many subsequent English translations. ElShaddai Edwards has an excellent post up on the topic, with an interesting comment thread following.
It seems that intellectual arrogance is found not just at Oxbridge and Lambeth Palace. Well, John Hobbins often comes across as refreshingly non-arrogant, but every now and then that intellectualism comes through.
Yeah, good job, John. You’re not as arrogant and intellectual as Rowan!
Such an odd lot of posts spawned by your light, David.
A body you have prepared for me – therefore I come to do thy will – I’ll gladly take the covering offered, and not be offended by the naked either. After all, we have this treasure in earthen vessels. … all things are open and naked before the one we have to deal with. (I’m open to a bit of arrogance too – salt for my sacrifice.)
I love you, Bob. It’s great to hear your voice.
NLT is my weapon of choice.
And I’m not in fourth grade.
Why should Paul speak in a gigantic sentence when we’re not reading the Greek?