If you are serious about life and learning, asking questions becomes a way of life. That goes for everything you see and hear and otherwise sense in the world. It doubly goes for second-hand information in all its forms: books, television, digital information and social media for starters. Whether you are a person of faith or an atheist, it also applies to religious writing, including the Bible. But how do you go about it?
Below are seven variations of the shortest chapter and shortest psalm in the Good Book, Psalm 117. The first version comes from the Anglican tradition,. It carries a Latin phrase as a title, Laudate Dominum, the translation of the first words of the psalm. It’s a reminder that every modern translation is rooted in ancient languages like Latin and Greek. No wonder no two of the many translations and versions of the Bible are the same. This is just one of the reasons to take it seriously, but not literally.
Take a look at these variations and then consider the questions that follow.
1 O PRAISE the LORD, all ye nations:/laud him, all ye peoples.
For his merciful kindness is ever more and more towards us:/ and the truth of the LORD endureth forever. Praise the LORD.
(From The Book of Common Prayer, p. 482)
2 Praise the LORD, all nations;
extol Him, all peoples.
For His Kindness overwhelms us,
and the LORD’s steadfast truth is forever.
Hallelujah.
(From The Hebrew Bible, The Writings, trans. Robert Alter, p. 275)
3 Praise the LORD, all you nations!
Extol him, all you peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD
endures forever.
Praise the LORD!
(From The New Oxford Annotated Bible, New Revised Standard Version, p. 879)
4 Praise the LORD, all you nations;
extol him, all you peoples.
For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD.
(From The New International Version, p. 786)
5 Praise the LORD, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us;
and the faithfulness of the LORD
endures forever.
Praise the LORD!
(From The Revised Standard Version, p. 543)
6 O PRAISE the LORD, all ye nations:
praise him, all ye people.
For his merciful kindness is great toward us:
and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever.
Praise ye the LORD.
(From The Authorized King James Version, p. 428)
7 Praise the LORD, all nations!
Praise him, all peoples!
His love for us is strong,
and his faithfulness is eternal.
Praise the LORD!
(From The Good News Bible, p. 675)
Like the Anglican prayer book version of the first variation of Psalm 117, this last one has also been given a title: In Praise of the LORD
When you read these variations carefully, you’ll note differences both obvious and subtle. Now read them out loud, paying close attention to punctuation and emphasis. Then ask yourself the questions below:
Which variation most appeals to me?
Why do I feel that way?
Why is the word “lord” capitalized in every variation?
To whom is the psalm speaking?
Which two variations are most similar?
Which two are most different from each other?
What is important about this briefest of psalms?
Reflect further on these variations of Psalm 117. See if you can come up with seven more questions to ask yourself about them.