Last year, I did a post looking at the changes found in the book of Sirach, comparing the RSV-2CE with the original RSV-CE. I noted that there were a number of places where the RSV-2CE went with a different rendering or followed a different textual basis for their translation of Sirach. The big issue, of course, is that these changes are not indicated in the textual notes of the RSV-2CE. Well, I decided to read a little bit of Sirach recently and ran into the same issue within the first chapter. Below is the RSV-2CE rendering, followed by a number of other translations. Again, I think we can see the influence of the Vulgate here. There is also the issue as to whether or not a particular translation adds "the Lord" to verse 8 or beginning verse 9.
RSV-2CE:
"There is One who is wise, the Creator of all, the King greatly to be feared, sitting upon his throne, and ruling as God."
RSV-CE:
"There is One who is wise, greatly to be feared, sitting on his throne."
Douay-Rheims (Challoner):
"There is one most high Creator Almighty, and a powerful king, and greatly to be feared, who sitteth upon his throne, and is the God of dominion."
NABRE:
"There is but one, wise and truly awesome, seated upon his throne--the Lord."
NRSV:
"There is but one who is wise, greatly to be feared, seated upon his throne--the Lord."
2 comments:
That actually, is, hands down, my favorite rendering in the RSV-2CE - it's why I say the RSV-2CE has the best rendering of Sirach I've read (as long as one doesn't mind inclusions from the traditional text instead of the modern lectio brevior one).
The NABRE and NRSV are tied for "really bad".
This is in fact also an interesting example of how Challoner revises on the 1611 Douai:
1611 (Douai): There is one most high Creatour omnipotent, and mightie King, and to be feared excedingly, sitting vpon his throne and the God of dominion.
1752 (Challoner): There is one most high Creator Almighty, and a powerful king, and greatly to be feared, who sitteth upon his throne and is the God of dominion.
Notice also how the Geneva Bible distinguishes between the different source texts:
1587 (Geneva): There is one wise, [euen the most high Creator of all things, the Almightie, the King of power] and very terrible, which sitteth vpon his throne.
and how the KJV set the stage for many later translations:
1611 (KJV): There is one wise and greatly to bee feared; the Lord sitting vpon his Throne.
Post a Comment