Barrick, "Early Versions & Psalm 23"
ETS -- November 2005
© William D. Barrick 2005
21
Concluding Statistics and Observations for Psalm 23 Translations
Version
Verse by Verse Score
Average
1 2 3 4 5 6
KJV 79
100
87
85
100
84
89.2
NKJ 79
100
87
85
100
84
89.2
NAS 79
100
93
89
95
87
90.5
NAU 79
100
93
89
95
87
90.5
ESV 79
100
93
85
100
84
90.2
NRS 79
100
90
96
100
89
92.3
CSB
83 93 87
38
100
100
92
92.5
NIV 83
100
39
100
85
100
87
92.5
TEV
50 80 67
83
58
71
68.2
Comparison with TEV shows the degree of literalness and accuracy in the eight selected versions. Those translations of Psalm 23
are obviously not free translations emphasizing dynamic equivalence. They are more formal in their renderings.
Why do HCSB, NIV, and NRSV outscore KJV, NKJV, NASB, and NASU? Part of the reason in this particular passage is the
former three translations allowed their translators greater freedom in handling this very popular and well-known text. NKJV, NASB,
and NASU basically followed the KJV with little variation, even if the translation proved to be technically inaccurate with regard to
the original Hebrew. The high scores in Psalm 23, therefore, ought not be taken as indicative of the tenor of the rest of the OT in these
versions. Other factors must be taken into consideration in evaluating a translation. For example, NIV's obvious penchant for the
Septuagint in matters of textual criticism impacts the overall accuracy and consistency of its translation in the OT. Also, NIV will
tend, at times, to be quite free with the text. Psalm 23's popularity may not have allowed the NIV translators to be as free with it as
they might with less familiar and popular portions of the OT. It is possible, in any evaluation system, for a less accurate overall
translation of the Bible to shine and excel in both accuracy and clarity in certain passages. It just so happens that Psalm 23 reveals the
"Achilles heel" of the KJV/NKJV and NASB/NASU pairings. The newer translations remained too faithful to the KJV at the price of
accuracy. Politics and commerce do not mix well with Bible translation, because accuracy is thereby jeopardized.
38
Surprisingly, HCSB bettered all of the more literal translations in its accuracy for Ps 23:4.
39
Such examples of accuracy in NIV when the more literal translations have failed, are the reason why its overall final score is higher. At least in Psalm
23, NIV has been more consistently accurate and literal than the other translations. Accuracy in Psalm 23, however, does not guarantee equal success for
accuracy in the remaining translation of the OT.