a Art. IV. 4 New Family Bible, and Improved Version, from corrected Texts of the Originals ; with Notes, critical and explanatory, and short Practical Reflections on each Chapter : together with a general Introduction, on the Authenticity and Inspiration of the Sacred Books; and a complete View of the Mosaic Laws, Rites, and Customs. By the Rev. B. Boothroyd, Editor of the Biblia Hebraica. Vol. II. 4to. Huddersfield. (Printed for the Au thor.) A TRANSLATOR of the Bible is in many respects not on an equality with a translator of a classic author. He is restrained by feelings of veneration for his originals, and of fear in regard to the interpretations that he may propose, which cannot influence the latter; and the rules by which he must proceed, are much more restrictive, denying him the aids of which without offence the other may avail himself. In both instances, indeed, there is a common measure which the translators must alike adopt; as there are difficulties which in the same manner affect the author of a Biblical version, and the translator of an ancient classic. The acquirement of a language which has ceased to be spoken, and the knowledge of which is to be obtained only from books, is requisite in either case ; but, as the facility of understanding the terms and comprehending the structure of a language, is in proportion to the extent of the means afforded by the compositions which have preserved it, the scanty limits of the Hebrew language render its acquisition peculiarly difficult. Its great antiquity, the rare occurrence of many of its terms, and our ignorance of many of the circumstances which gave existence and meaning to its words and idioms, have superinduced peculiar obscurities on the study of this language. The Biblical translator, in proceeding through the books of the Old Testament, becomes acquainted, only as he advances, with the magnitude of his undertaking, and with the obstructions which are to be surmounted before it can be completed. Engaged in the preparation of a work which must necessarily innovate on preceding translations, he is aware, and his difficulties are not a little increased by the circumstance, that any deviations from modes of expression sanctioned by long established usage, will excite prejudice; and there is some danger lest this should induce a spirit of excessive timidity, and embarrass the freedom of his judgement. To substitute a proper and intelligible expression in the place of • leasing?—a word which but few readers of the Scriptures understand, -or to remove • Easter' from the page of Luke, who knew nothing of the term, that the correct expression the passover' may take its place,--would be the occasion of offence and alarm to some worthy persons : they would regard with suspicion such alterations, though they are necessary corrections, and real and essential improvements; and would discountenance a translator who should exhibit the sacred text with such emendations. Disregard of unreasonable prejudices is, in a translator of the Scriptures, an indispensable virtue. His primary duty is, to lay before us the genuine meaning of the sacred oracles; and this duty he must fulfil, by using such words and phrases as may most perspicuously and exactly convey the sense of the originals. We commend Dr. Boothroyd to the approbation of our readers as exemplifying this virtue. He has not hesitated to denominate his work an • Improved Version,' although he must have been aware that, in some quarters, such a title would be obnoxious; and he has never permitted an improper or an unmeaning expression to retain a place in his text, of which no better account could be given, than that it was of venerable age. In other respects too, the qualifications of the present Translator are very respectable. The numerous instances in which, since the publication of Lowth's Isaiah, different portions of the Scriptures have been sent abroad in new versions by Hebrew Scholars, must considerably facilitate the labours of a translator, whose services indeed, to a great extent, it would be more correct to describe as those of an editor selecting from the works of his predecessors, rather than of a translator. If, however, these aids supply advantages to the author or editor of a version in this respect, they increase his perplexities in another, and impose a task upon his judgement which he will not always be able to fulfil to his own satisfaction. And of these advantages he can avail himself safely and effectually, only as he shall be sufficiently qualified by the possession of appropriate learning and skill to appreciate the merits of those who have laboured, and into whose labours he has entered. A fastidious critic might, we doubt not, find fault with Dr. Boothroyd as a translator of the Bible; and we shall have to shew that he has not uniformly escaped errors in his version; but we are glad that the business of providing a revised edition of the Holy Scriptures from corrected texts of the original, was undertaken by so competent a person, and we congratulate him on the completion of his labours. We shall at present notice the second volume, which includes the books of the Old Testament not comprised in the first, namely from Job to Malachi inclusive, reserving to some future occasion our examination of the third volume, which comprises the books of the New Testament. Instead of quoting a number of detached passages as specimens of the Translation before us, we shall extract the entire draw near, chapter which contains the prayer of Habakkuk, and which our readers may compare with Newcome and the public version. We shall then prosecute our task by citing some passages which appear to us to be inadequately rendered, or which, in other respects, may be objectionable, that the Translator may have the benefit of our strictures, or our doubts, in the revisal of his labours. CHAPTER IIL • A review of God's ancient works done for his people ; and from hence the prophet infers that God will fulfil his promises. I have feared, O Jehovah, thy work! thou hast shewn it; In wrath thou rememberest mercy. 3 God came from Teman, And the Holy One from Mount Paran. And the earth was full of his praise. 4 And his brightness was as the light; Rays streamed forth from his head : And there was the hiding-place of his power. 5 Before him marched the pestilence; Birds of prey followed his foot-steps. 6 He stood and measured the land; He beheld and dispersed the nations, The eternal paths were trodden by him, The curtains of the land of Midian trembled, And upon thy chariots of salvation ? 9 Thy bow made bare was directed ; According to the oath to the tribes, even the promise, 10 Thou didst gleave the streams of the land, The mountains saw thee, and trembled : And lifted up its hands on high. By their light thine arrows went abroad; 12 Thou didst march through the land in indignation ; Thou didst tread down the nations in anger. Even for the salvation of thine anointed ones; Thou didst lay bare the foundation unto the rock. Selah. 14 Thou didst pierce with thy rod the heads of his villages : They came out as a whirlwind to scatter us: Their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly. 15 Thou didst march through the sea with thy horses, Through the heap of mighty waters. At the sound of thy words my lips quivered ; To go up to the people who will invade us. And there shall be no fruit on the vines ; And there shall be no herd in the stalls : 18 Yet will I rejoice in Jehovah, I will exult in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord Jehovah is my strengh, And he will make my feet like hinds' feet, [To the chief singer on Neginoth.] The Book of Job, with which the second volume of this • Improved Version' commences, is considered by Dr. Boothroyd as the most ancient composition in the Hebrew Scriptures, and is attributed by him, in common with many other writers, to Moses. We observe with pleasure, that the text of this book in the work now before us, is much more conformable to that of the Public Version, than, from the numerous readings proposed for adoption in the “ Biblia Hebraica,” we were prepared to expect. King James's Translators are entitled to great praise for the very admirable manner in which they have executed this portion of their labours, especially when we consider their limited means of performing the task. To both Schultens and Scott, but particularly the latter, the present Translator acknowledges his obligations. In this discrimination of merit, we agree with him. The real advantages conferred by the extensive and erudite labours of Schultens on this book, have been considerably over-valued. A reading is sometimes proposed by him, which is apt to strike us by its Rovelty, byt which, when divested of this attraction, and esti mated by its intrinsic merits, is found to be too deficient in Job, chap. i. v. 3.-she-asses. So the Common Version, and Dr. Boothroyd, with the translators generally. But why not asses without distinction of kind? Because, it may be said, the original word is of the feminine gender. Why then do they not give us male-camels in the preceding part of the verse, where the word for camel in the Hebrew text is masculine? The distinctive appellation was probably applied according to the kind of which, in each case, there was the greater number. Virgil's description of Galæsus, Æn. 7. 535, is strikingly in correspondence to this of Job. justissimus unus Qui fuit, Ausoniisque olim ditissimus arvis : In our Number for Feb. 1816, (Vol. V. p. 140.) we proposed a new version of a passage in chap. i. v. 5, which Dr. Boothroyd has honoured us by adopting, as the reader may perceive by the following extract, which contains his translation and note. it may be that my sons have sinned, though they bless "" God in their heart." C C |