about the NJB:
“This translation, often used in the Catholic Church, follows the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. For the Old Testament the “Masoretic Text” established in the 8-9th centuries AD by Jewish scholars, is used. Only when this presents insuperable difficulties have emendations or other versions, such as the ancient Greek translation begun in 200 BC at Alexandria, the “Septuagint” (LXX), been used.”
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Luke 20:34 “the children of this world”
This wording does not accurately communicate the meaning of the original Semitic idiom which refers to ‘people who are now living.’
Eph. 4:15 see comment under NET
Ps. 116:5 “our God is tenderness”
My understanding of English is that it is not appropriate to use a predicate nominal, “tenderness,” like this. (E.g. I don’t think we could say “Bob is affection,” or “Sally is wisdom.”) Instead, it would be appropriate, according to English grammar, to use a predicate adjective in Ps. 116:5:
“our God is tender”
Unless of course it was talking of the personification of this trait, such as “God is love.” I don’t have my copy here to check, so I don’t know if this is an accurate understanding of this usage.
If I remember right, I think the JB (which the NJB descended from) was originally a french translation, that was then re-translated into english. This might account for some of the problems that are seen. The Jerusalem family of bibles does a great job showing the literary quality of the scriptures, especially the O.T.w
With all respect to chad above, one frequently hears that the NJB was translated from the French, rather than the original languages. The General Editor’s Foreword to the 1985 Doubleday edition states (p. v):
“The biblical text of the first edition was occasionally criticised for following the French translation more closely than the originals. In this edition the translation has been made directly from the Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic. Only where the text admits or more than one interpretation has the option been chosen by the Bible de Jerusalem been followed, unless permission to adopt another view was granted by the editors of that work.”
As to that last sentence, this statement by the general editor may be helpful.
I am very much a consumer of biblical scholarship rather than a producer. Still, I have sometimes earned my living by translating a (very non-biblical) language into English, and to say that anything was translated from another translation rather than from its original language is much more damning than some might think.
regards,
JPB
I had been reading the NLT. It was a fresh alternative to the ESV. I found it easier to read large portions of scripture using it. But I found it a bit TOO LOOSE for me. I dusted off my NJB (and JB reader’s edition).
I wanted something besides the usual King James tradition (in which I lump the ESV) but not as free as the NLT or CEV. The NJB was different enough. Some interesting choices in variant readings to boot! I love the psalms with “Yahweh”. I love the literary style. It’s been a nice change.
Ken,
if you like the NJB for Psalms, try the WEB. ( world english bible)…the O.T. accurately renders the sacred name “Yahweh” correctly all the way thru.
Its nice way to read psalms are give praise to our Eternal God, Yahweh. Its much better to actually see his sacred name in print, vs. the generic title of God, or Lord….
most of Psalms were written to YHWH, so its only fitting to print his real name. Esp. in Duet. 6:4 and on, and on….
My favorite translation.