Barrick, "Early Versions & Psalm 23"
ETS -- November 2005
© William D. Barrick 2005
17
TEV Even if I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be
afraid, Lord,
for you are with me.
Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me.
22.5 83
Observations on verse 4:
·
There is no article for "valley" in the text (Principle 7). NRSV's "the darkest valley" resulted from attempting to be smooth
and concise. The article was added due to proper English usage. Inaccuracy = -1.0.
·
Omission of "valley" (TEV) obscures the intended metaphor. Inaccuracy = -1.0.
·
"The shadow of death" is a Hebrew idiom (Principle 5) referring to deep darkness. Inaccuracy = -1.0.
·
The verbs ("walk," fear," "comfort") are present by context (Principle 2). Inaccuracy = -1.0.
·
In the Hebrew,
[r"
(râ`) in this context refers to "calamity" or "trouble" while the English "evil" implies something moral.
Omission (TEV) is equally inaccurate. Inaccuracy = -1.0.
·
Providing an antecedent for the 2ms pronoun (TEV's "Lord") is unnecessary. Lesser inaccuracy = -0.5.
·
The final line of the verse involves a compound nominative absolute (or, extraposition) followed by the emphatic personal
pronoun before the verb. Although the emphasis is not possible to represent easily and smoothly in English, a careful wording
of the absolute construction can help to imply it.
·
TEV's "protect" for the text's "comfort" is inaccurate = -1.0.
·
Principles derived from the examination of the translations of verse 4:
Principle #9: When possible, emphasis ought to be expressed in the translation, but not at the expense of a smooth English
translation.
v. 5 MT
yr"_r>co dg<n<ï !x'ªl.vu yn:"p'l. %roì[]T;
`hy")w"r> ysiîAK yviªaro÷ !m,V,îb; T'n>V:ßDI
%
Base You arrange a table before me in front of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil,
My cup overflows.
19 100
KJV Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine
enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.
19 100