« | Psalm 44 | » |
1 To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah. We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what deeds thou didst perform in their days, in the days of old:
2 thou with thy own hand didst drive out the nations, but them thou didst plant; thou didst afflict the peoples, but them thou didst set free;
3 for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm give them victory; but thy right hand, and thy arm, and the light of thy countenance; for thou didst delight in them.
4 Thou art my King and my God, who ordainest victories for Jacob.
5 Through thee we push down our foes; through thy name we tread down our assailants.
6 For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me.
7 But thou hast saved us from our foes, and hast put to confusion those who hate us.
8 In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to thy name for ever. [Selah]
9 Yet thou hast cast us off and abased us, and hast not gone out with our armies.
10 Thou hast made us turn back from the foe; and our enemies have gotten spoil.
11 Thou hast made us like sheep for slaughter, and hast scattered us among the nations.
12 Thou hast sold thy people for a trifle, demanding no high price for them.
13 Thou hast made us the taunt of our neighbors, the derision and scorn of those about us.
14 Thou hast made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.
15 All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face,
16 at the words of the taunters and revilers, at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.
17 All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten thee, or been false to thy covenant.
18 Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from thy way,
19 that thou shouldst have broken us in the place of jackals, and covered us with deep darkness.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God, or spread forth our hands to a strange god,
21 would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.
22 Nay, for thy sake we are slain all the day long, and accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
23 Rouse thyself! Why sleepest thou, O Lord? Awake! Do not cast us off for ever!
24 Why dost thou hide thy face? Why dost thou forget our affliction and oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our body cleaves to the ground.
26 Rise up, come to our help! Deliver us for the sake of thy steadfast love!
The Revised Standard Version (RSV)
The Revised Standard Version (RSV) is a widely respected English translation of the Bible that was first published in 1952 by the National Council of Churches. It was developed as a revision of the American Standard Version (ASV) of 1901, with the primary aim of providing a more accurate and readable text while retaining the literary qualities of its predecessor. The RSV sought to modernize the language of the ASV without sacrificing its faithfulness to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts, making it a significant milestone in the history of English Bible translations.
One of the key features of the RSV is its commitment to formal equivalence, or a word-for-word translation approach. This method ensures that the translation closely mirrors the structure and wording of the original texts, allowing readers to engage more directly with the biblical languages. The translators of the RSV were guided by the latest biblical scholarship of their time, and they endeavored to produce a text that was both accurate and elegant. This combination of precision and literary quality has made the RSV a popular choice for both academic study and liturgical use.
The RSV also stands out for its ecumenical appeal. It was one of the first translations to be accepted across a wide range of Christian denominations, including Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions. This broad acceptance was partly due to the inclusive approach of the translation committee, which included scholars from various religious backgrounds. The RSV’s ecumenical nature helped it gain widespread usage in churches, seminaries, and universities, fostering a greater sense of unity among different Christian communities.
Despite its many strengths, the RSV has faced some criticism over the years. Some conservative scholars and readers have expressed concerns about certain translation choices, arguing that they reflect modernist theological perspectives. Additionally, the RSV’s use of archaic language in certain passages has been a point of contention for those seeking a more contemporary rendering of the Bible. Nonetheless, the Revised Standard Version remains a highly respected and influential translation, valued for its accuracy, literary excellence, and broad ecumenical acceptance. It continues to serve as a foundation for later revisions and translations, such as the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) and the English Standard Version (ESV).