New Translations

 I grew up with the King James Bible.  Much of what I have memorized is King James.  After that, I have worn out a New American Standard, a New King James, and I'm not sure what other translations.  As new translations popped up, I would use them mostly as comparison for new insights.  I enjoy the way The Message Bible expresses many verses, but in some instances, I feel that he missed the point.  When my husband died three years ago, I laid claim to his Modern English version, and now as a Christmas gift I received a lovely Passion translation of the New Testament, Psalms, Proverbs and Song of Songs.

My present Bible reading plan has me reading the entire Bible between September and the end of May, so most days, it's 4 chapters in the Old Testament and 1 in the New.  Since Christmas, I have been reading the Passion translation alongside my Modern English version.  Sometimes I prefer how one of them states a verse better than the other, and sometimes they're very similar. 

In today's reading, I found some gems in the Passion translation that I want to share.

Psalm 32:1,2   "What bliss belongs to the one whose rebellion has been forgiven, those whose sins are covered by blood.  What bliss belongs to those who have confessed their corruption to God!  For he wipes their slates clean and removes hypocrisy from their hearts."

Psalm 32, verses 10b,11   "But when you trust in the Lord for forgiveness, his wraparound love will surround you. So celebrate the goodness of God!  He shows this kindness to everyone who is his.  Go ahead - shout for joy, all you upright ones who want to please him!"  (I love the "wraparound love" phrase.)

Psalm 33:5-9   "The Lord loves seeing justice on the earth.  Anywhere and everywhere you can find his faithful, unfailing love!  

"All he had to do was speak by his Spirit-Wind command, and God created the heavenlies.  Filled with galaxies and stars, the vast cosmos he wonderfully made.  His voice scooped out the seas.  The ocean depths he poured into vast reservoirs.  

"With breathtaking wonder, let everyone worship Yahweh, this awe-inspiring Creator.  He breathed words and worlds were birthed.  "Let there be," and there it was - no sooner said than done!"

And verse 20:  "The Lord alone is our radiant hope and we trust in him with all our hearts.  His wraparound presence will strengthen us."  (There's that wraparound expression again!  The New King James has it as "He is our strength and our shield.")

I truly love the King James version of Psalm 34, some of which we sang fairly literally word for word in the 80's, and much of which I memorized, but it's still cool to see the new perspective in the Passion translation...

"Lord!  I'm bursting with joy over what you've done for me!  My lips are full of perpetual praise.  I'm boasting of you and all your works, so let all who are discouraged take heart.  Join me, everyone!  Let's praise the Lord together.  Let's make him famous!  

"Listen to my testimony:  I cried to God in my distress and he answered me.  He freed me from all my fears!  

"Gaze upon him, join your life with his, and joy will come.  Your faces will glisten with glory.  You'll never wear that Shame-face again.  

"When I had nothing, desperate and defeated, I cried out to the Lord and he heard me, bringing his miracle-deliverance when I needed it most.  The angel of the Lord stooped down to listen as I prayed, encircling me, empowering me, and showing me how to escape.  He will do this for everyone who fears God.

 "Drink deeply of the pleasures of this God, experience for yourself the joyous mercies he gives to all who turn to hide themselves in him.  Worship in awe and wonder, all you who've been made holy!  For all who fear him will feast with plenty.  Even the strong and the wealthy grow weak and hungry, but those who passionately pursue the Lord will never lack any good thing." (verses 1-10)

I hope you'll find encouragement from these Psalms today.