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PSALMS ANEW in inclusive language
Psalms Anew has been created for those who love to pray the Psalms alone or in communal prayer and are committed to the use of inclusive language. These Psalms remain as faithful as possible to the original text so as to guard the authenticity of the Psalms while at the same time freeing them from their patriarchal bias. Contains a cover flap for use as a bookmark or as the spine of the book when placed on a shelf.
- GenresReligion
Paperback
Published April 1, 1986
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 11, 2014
This is a new translation of the Psalter by two Catholic women, who are both members of the Sisters of Saint Francis. In their preface they state, “These psalms remain as faithful as possible to the original text so as to guard the authenticity of the Psalms while at the same time freeing them from their patriarchal bias.”
In most cases the transition to “inclusive language” is benign. The word “men” is translated as “people”. References to “God of Abraham” become “God of Abraham and Sarah”, and so forth.
Other times the use of inclusive language obscures the text. For example, Psalm 2:12 in the NIV reads “Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction.” This is traditionally interpreted by Christians as a reference to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. In Psalms Anew, the clause “Kiss his son” is omitted, because of the male gender bias, so the verse reads as a continuation of verse 11: “lest God be angry and you perish”.
Likewise, Psalm 132:17-18 is another well-known Messianic reference. In the NIV it reads:
“Here I will make a horn grow for David
and set up a lamp for my anointed one.
I will clothe his enemies with shame,
but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”
In Psalms Anew, by getting rid of the masculine pronoun (“his”) in favor of a neutral plural pronoun (“they”), the reference to Christ is effectively expurgated:
Here David’s stock will flower;
I will place a lamp for my anointed.
I will cover their enemies with shame,
But on them my crown shall shine.
This is an interesting translation, helpful for casual reading perhaps, but certainly not useful for serious study and prayer.
In most cases the transition to “inclusive language” is benign. The word “men” is translated as “people”. References to “God of Abraham” become “God of Abraham and Sarah”, and so forth.
Other times the use of inclusive language obscures the text. For example, Psalm 2:12 in the NIV reads “Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction.” This is traditionally interpreted by Christians as a reference to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. In Psalms Anew, the clause “Kiss his son” is omitted, because of the male gender bias, so the verse reads as a continuation of verse 11: “lest God be angry and you perish”.
Likewise, Psalm 132:17-18 is another well-known Messianic reference. In the NIV it reads:
“Here I will make a horn grow for David
and set up a lamp for my anointed one.
I will clothe his enemies with shame,
but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”
In Psalms Anew, by getting rid of the masculine pronoun (“his”) in favor of a neutral plural pronoun (“they”), the reference to Christ is effectively expurgated:
Here David’s stock will flower;
I will place a lamp for my anointed.
I will cover their enemies with shame,
But on them my crown shall shine.
This is an interesting translation, helpful for casual reading perhaps, but certainly not useful for serious study and prayer.
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July 15, 2023Outstandingly excellent!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews