Fun with the NRSV Bible

HarryT · 03-04-2009, 12:14 PM

The "New Revised Standard Version" (NRSV) is my favourite translation of the Bible, and I was interested in getting a version of it for my CyBook. A little digging, however, revealed that it was only available in separate "OT" and "NT" volumes, and in various formats, such as MS Reader and eReader, but not MobiPocket.

So, I bought the Old Testament from BoB and the New Testament from Fictionwise, both in MS Reader format (FW only sell the OT in eReader format, for whatever reason). The Reader version really is beautifully formatted, I have to say, with distinct formatting of prose and poetry, all the footnotes that the printed version has (eg, of ambiguities in translation), topic headings every few verses, and so on.

I converted both volumes to OEB format, and then edited the OPF file to "merge" the OT and NT into a single volume, edited the TOC pages to look nicer, and then built it to create the whole thing in a single volume. The result looks very nice, and works well on the Gen3.

A useful hour's work!

pilotbob · 03-04-2009, 10:52 PM

To bad you can't share.

BOb

Gideon · 03-05-2009, 12:28 AM

Ah, so jealous...

kapblp · 03-05-2009, 08:41 AM

You know you can get the ESV free from Amazon right now. I got it as my first book "purchase" and am doing my personal reading in it today.

Gideon · 03-05-2009, 02:05 PM

Yeah... but it's not the NRSV. Just not the same.

badgoodDeb · 03-05-2009, 02:52 PM

I think you are allowed to post a single screen shot here. Could you post a pic of Psalm 23? I find that useful to check whether I will or won't like a different version. I'm enjoying the NIV at the moment.

Gideon · 03-05-2009, 03:07 PM

Here's a comparision of various translations with Pslam 23:
http://www.cord.edu/faculty/hoffman/psalms/psalm23.htm

I prefer the translation from the Jewish Publication Society best, however:

Quote:

A psalm of David.
The LORD is my shepherd;
I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me to water in places of repose;

He renews my life;
He guides me in right paths
as beﬁts His name.

Though I walk through a valley of deepest darkness
I fear no harm, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.

You spread a table for me in full view of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my drink is abundant.

Only goodness and steadfast love shall pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for many long years.

But for sheer aesthetic purposes, the old King James does a good job.

HarryT · 03-06-2009, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gideon

But for sheer aesthetic purposes, the old King James does a good job.

It's beautiful English. Unfortunately it's just not a very good translation, in many cases, of either the Hebrew or Greek originals. Our knowledge of the ancient languages has improved immeasurably in the last 400 years.

Gideon · 03-06-2009, 04:17 AM

Yep.

Ever read any of those "KJV Only" types try to defend their position? HILARIOUS.

I mean... at least if you're familiar with Biblical translations, etc.

kapblp · 03-06-2009, 09:18 AM

The KJV only croud are guilty of circular reasoning. They say the NRSV or any other translation is wrong because it changed the word of God. So then you ask them to prove it and they point out the differences between the translation and the KJV. When you say so what, they say, "You can't add or detract. Says so in Rev." So there definition of adding or detracting, if you even agree with the interp of that passage, is that it is different from the KJV. Circular reasoning.

HarryT · 03-06-2009, 10:45 AM

... which is especially ridiculous when you consider that the KJV is nothing more than a translation. Surely if one wishes to read the real "word of God" one should read the original languages, because no translation can convey more than a "sense" of what the original says.

That then raises the question "what is the original"? Eg, we have several hundred surviving early manuscripts of the New Testament. Every one of them is different. Which is the "real" New Testament?

One specific example: the famous story from John's gospel, of the crowd about to stone to death the woman accused of adultary, where Jesus says "let he who is without sin cast the first stone". That entire story is a late addition to the text; it appears in no manuscript of John before the 5th century AD. The likely explanation is that some 5th century monk, engaged in copying John's gospel, heard the story somewhere and thought "that would make a nice addition - let's add it" and stuck in into the story at a suitable point. It "caught on" and is now regarded as a "legitimate" part of the NT. More than that - it's now one of the most famous of all "Bible stories" even though it's been known for centuries to be a "fake".

pilotbob · 03-06-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

That then raises the question "what is the original"? Eg, we have several hundred surviving early manuscripts of the New Testament. Every one of them is different. Which is the "real" New Testament?

I've just decided to get my directions from God directly. This way I know it is the "word of God".

He has yet to speak up though so I figure I'm "good".

BOb

AbFabGab · 03-06-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I've just decided to get my directions from God directly. This way I know it is the "word of God".

He has yet to speak up though so I figure I'm "good".

BOb

HarryT · 03-07-2009, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I've just decided to get my directions from God directly. This way I know it is the "word of God".

Good plan - it worked for Mr. Bush!

badgoodDeb · 03-07-2009, 05:58 PM

Wait ... wasn't Bush the one that was all on fire? Though I guess if it didn't harm him, he's probably still okay.

03-04-2009, 12:14 PM	#1
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Fun with the NRSV Bible The "New Revised Standard Version" (NRSV) is my favourite translation of the Bible, and I was interested in getting a version of it for my CyBook. A little digging, however, revealed that it was only available in separate "OT" and "NT" volumes, and in various formats, such as MS Reader and eReader, but not MobiPocket. So, I bought the Old Testament from BoB and the New Testament from Fictionwise, both in MS Reader format (FW only sell the OT in eReader format, for whatever reason). The Reader version really is beautifully formatted, I have to say, with distinct formatting of prose and poetry, all the footnotes that the printed version has (eg, of ambiguities in translation), topic headings every few verses, and so on. I converted both volumes to OEB format, and then edited the OPF file to "merge" the OT and NT into a single volume, edited the TOC pages to look nicer, and then built it to create the whole thing in a single volume. The result looks very nice, and works well on the Gen3. A useful hour's work!

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03-04-2009, 10:52 PM	#2
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	To bad you can't share. BOb

03-05-2009, 12:28 AM	#3
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	Ah, so jealous...

03-05-2009, 08:41 AM	#4
kapblp Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2007 Device: Samsung Q1U	You know you can get the ESV free from Amazon right now. I got it as my first book "purchase" and am doing my personal reading in it today.

03-05-2009, 02:05 PM	#5
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	Yeah... but it's not the NRSV. Just not the same.

03-05-2009, 02:52 PM	#6
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,501 Karma: 64095689 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	I think you are allowed to post a single screen shot here. Could you post a pic of Psalm 23? I find that useful to check whether I will or won't like a different version. I'm enjoying the NIV at the moment.

03-06-2009, 04:17 AM	#9
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	Yep. Ever read any of those "KJV Only" types try to defend their position? HILARIOUS. I mean... at least if you're familiar with Biblical translations, etc.

03-06-2009, 09:18 AM	#10
kapblp Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2007 Device: Samsung Q1U	The KJV only croud are guilty of circular reasoning. They say the NRSV or any other translation is wrong because it changed the word of God. So then you ask them to prove it and they point out the differences between the translation and the KJV. When you say so what, they say, "You can't add or detract. Says so in Rev." So there definition of adding or detracting, if you even agree with the interp of that passage, is that it is different from the KJV. Circular reasoning.

03-06-2009, 10:45 AM	#11
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	... which is especially ridiculous when you consider that the KJV is nothing more than a translation. Surely if one wishes to read the real "word of God" one should read the original languages, because no translation can convey more than a "sense" of what the original says. That then raises the question "what is the original"? Eg, we have several hundred surviving early manuscripts of the New Testament. Every one of them is different. Which is the "real" New Testament? One specific example: the famous story from John's gospel, of the crowd about to stone to death the woman accused of adultary, where Jesus says "let he who is without sin cast the first stone". That entire story is a late addition to the text; it appears in no manuscript of John before the 5th century AD. The likely explanation is that some 5th century monk, engaged in copying John's gospel, heard the story somewhere and thought "that would make a nice addition - let's add it" and stuck in into the story at a suitable point. It "caught on" and is now regarded as a "legitimate" part of the NT. More than that - it's now one of the most famous of all "Bible stories" even though it's been known for centuries to be a "fake".

03-07-2009, 05:58 PM	#15
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,501 Karma: 64095689 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Wait ... wasn't Bush the one that was all on fire? Though I guess if it didn't harm him, he's probably still okay.

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