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The Psalms: Grail Translation from the Hebrew
An inclusive language version based on the Grail translation from the Hebrew
253 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1981
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The Grail Psalms
16 books2 followersThe Grail Psalms refers to various editions of an English translation of the Book of Psalms, first published completely as The Psalms: A New Translation in 1963 by the Ladies of the Grail. The translation was modeled on the French La Bible de Jérusalem, according to the school of Fr. Joseph Gelineau: a simple vernacular, arranged in sprung rhythm to be suitable for liturgical song and chant. All official, Roman Catholic, English translations of the Liturgy of the Hours use the Grail Psalms.
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August 13, 2008
This translation of the Psalms from Hebrew to English paid special attention to the literary fidelity, and to the rhythmic structure of the poetry of the Psalms. That is to say, the translators were themselves poets, in addition to Biblical translators. They do not change any of the meanings of the words, but recast them in forms more accessible to the 21st century.
This book is as essential to my life as breathing, though I am not Jewish, and barely a nominal Christian. The point is, there is comfort here for bad times; celebration for joyful times; succor for times of desperation; and light at almost any time. It is a celebration of life. A few selections:
Do not fret because of the wicked;
do not envy those who do evil,
for they wither quickly like grass
and fade like the green of the fields.
Cry out with joy to God all the earth,
O sing to the glory of his name
rendering glorious praise.
Say to God: "how tremendous your deeds!
O Lord, you search me and you know me,
you know my resting and my rising,
you discern my purpose from afar.
You mark when I walk or lie down,
all my ways lie open to you.
The eyes of all creatures look to you
and you give them their food in due season
You open wide your hand
grant the desires of all who live.
Four Quatrains chosen at random, each one a companion for a long night of loss, or an hour of suffering, or a moment of delight. It's in there.
My best friend gave me this for Christmas of 1998. She noticed I had taken it out of the library several times, that sneaky woman!
This book is as essential to my life as breathing, though I am not Jewish, and barely a nominal Christian. The point is, there is comfort here for bad times; celebration for joyful times; succor for times of desperation; and light at almost any time. It is a celebration of life. A few selections:
Do not fret because of the wicked;
do not envy those who do evil,
for they wither quickly like grass
and fade like the green of the fields.
Cry out with joy to God all the earth,
O sing to the glory of his name
rendering glorious praise.
Say to God: "how tremendous your deeds!
O Lord, you search me and you know me,
you know my resting and my rising,
you discern my purpose from afar.
You mark when I walk or lie down,
all my ways lie open to you.
The eyes of all creatures look to you
and you give them their food in due season
You open wide your hand
grant the desires of all who live.
Four Quatrains chosen at random, each one a companion for a long night of loss, or an hour of suffering, or a moment of delight. It's in there.
My best friend gave me this for Christmas of 1998. She noticed I had taken it out of the library several times, that sneaky woman!
Displaying 1 of 1 review