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NASB | Psalm 119:105 ¶ Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Psalm 119:105 ¶ Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. [Prov 6:23] |
Bible Question:
ESV opinion poll Any other respondents? Steve |
Bible Answer: A "semi-final" word (from me at least) regarding translations. Much has been said on the forum about translations, ranging from KJV to the Cotton Patch Gospel, and by and large, it has been, I believe, very helpful and informative. It is true that while some Christians see the plethora of new versions as helpful, there are others who feel somewhat overwhelmed and confused in being presented so wide a range of choices. Not a few see the glut of new translations as contributing to a translational Tower of Babel, doing more to divide Christendom than to unite it; but in truth the dynamics involved in division extend far beyond the minor differences in translation philosophies. Except for the obviously "cult-oriented" translations and the extreme paraphrase of a few others, the remainder of major modern translations differ from each other primarily in style, not substance. Each delivers the message of God's revelation to His creation; whether one receives that message from reading one version or another is essentially of little consequence; whether he responds to the call of God is the all-important consideration. One version may say that God so loved the world that He gave, another that God loved the world so much that He gave, and still another that God loved the world in this way that He gave -- but they all say that He gave His Son and whoever believes in the Son of God will not perish but have eternal life. This is the message of the ages, and it is true, no matter from which version we learn it. New Christians and older ones as well would probably be better off to select a version as their mainstay and keep another version or two handy for reference: flitting from one to another like a bee for nectar is too taxing a chore for most of us. No translation is, has ever been, and likely will ever be absolutely perfect in every way. Among standard translations the question of which is best will likely fail to find a truly objective answer. Which is best for me, which do I find more understandable and clear, which do I like -- not because someone else told me it was the best or the most accurate -- but which best conveys God's message to my mind: That is the key consideration in picking a version. --Hank |