Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Spot Check: 1 Peter 2:4-9

The second reading for this week's Sunday Mass is a continuation from 1 Peter. Once again, try to figure out which translation is which, from the RSV, NAB, or NRSV. This shouldn't be too difficult this week. Which one do you prefer and why?

1 Peter 2:4-9:

Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it says in scripture: "Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame." Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith: "The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," and "A stone that will make people stumble, and a rock that will make them fall." They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny. But you are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises" of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.


Come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God's sight chosen and precious; and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and he who believes in him will not be put to shame." To you therefore who believe, he is precious, but for those who do not believe, "The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner," and "A stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall"; for they stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.


Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: ‘See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’ To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner’, and ‘A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.’ They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

7 comments:

rolf said...

1) NAB(RE)
2) RSV
3) NRSV

I like the NAB but it failed on this reading, using inclusive language that even the NRSV did not use!

"Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in 'it' shall not be put to shame."

and

"Therefore, 'its' value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith:..."

I do not get too worried about mild inclusive language if used properly, but in my mind this is over the top. Again not even the NRSV would refer to Jesus Christ, the cornerstone as 'it'!

So NAB- FAIL, and if I hand to choose between the RSV and the NRSV on this reading, I would choose the RSV, because I think its 'stately' language sounds more appropriate in a liturgical type reading like this one.

Anonymous said...

Tim, you always pick passages that end up being nearly identical in the various translations. Why don't you pick a passage that has significant doctrinal differences in the translation, such as MT 16:24-28 and MT 16:13-20 and LK 1:26-38 (and include the Douay Rheims as the 'control').

Geoff J.

Timothy said...

Geoff,

I choose between the readings for the upcoming Mass readings. Some weeks there are bigger differences, other weeks not so much.

I'll consider using the Douay-Rheims in future comparisons.

Unknown said...

I don't know why, but I always think it sounds neat when the NRSV uses the word "mortals." Maybe I've played too many medieval-based video games?

Timothy said...

Geoffrey,

As a fan of the Highlander movies and TV series, I kind of like it as well!

Unknown said...

Sorry I haven't reviewed that Jerusalem Bible you so kindly gifted to me yet. This past year, life has been...awesome. We'll leave it at that.

I don't have a blog anymore, but I'd be happy to forward my thoughts this week or next.

Timothy said...

Geoff,

Sounds great. I look forward to reading them.

Tim