becomes "that path no bird of prey knoweth, neither hath the falcon's eye seen it.' version will be found to possess a life and vigour and clearness that make the old familiar passages even more full of meaning. We select, as one example typical of many, the following from Isaiah liii. 7-9. "He was oppressed, yet He humbled Himself and opened not His mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before her shearers is dumb; yea, He opened not His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who among them considered that He was cut In the closing chapters "the cluster" replaces "the sweet influences of the Pleiades," and "the bear with her train" replaces" "Arcturus with his sons." We now have the "wild ox" instead of the "unicorn"; "the wing of the ostrich " instead of the "peacock." The warhorse, instead of being "afraid as a grasshopper," now "leaps as a locust," and for the old rendering, not at all clear, "the glory of his nostrils is ter-off out of the land of the living? For rible,” we have "the glory of his snort- the transgression of My people was He ing." The more accurate use of the tenses stricken. And they made His grave with gives new force to many passages. the wicked, and with the rich in His death; although He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth." The Psalms are now divided, as in the Hebrew text, into five books, and afford many good instances of the reviser's restraint in making alterations. In the 23rd only one word is varied. The 47th contains many typical improvements, such as, "The King's daughter within the palace is all glorious." In the 47th all peoples are exhorted to clap their hands, thus widening out, not here only, but in many other places also, the scope of the Psalm far beyond the limits of Israel. The 121st now begins, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains. From whence shall my help come? My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth.' The prophecies gain greatly in their force and meaning to the English reader in their new form. It is hardly too much to say that although the words have been very familiar to many, they have not always conveyed clear meanings. The best way to appreciate the difference between the two is to compare long passages. Wherever this is done, the new Space does not permit the multiplication of examples, but careful thoughtful reading of the new version will bring to light, on almost every page, improvements that all tend to make the meaning of the inspired word clearer to the mind of the reader. The revisers have changed the text only where it was felt by the great majority of the company to be really needful, and although it is too much to expect that in all their decisions they will carry the judgment of others with them, yet every devout earnest reader of the Old Testament cannot fail to profit greatly by their labours. More and more will it become clear to those who thus study it that the Old Testament is not simply an old-world story, but that it contains God's revelation to men of the way in which He deals with men and nations, and of the way in which His love has seen fit to work out salvation for all who are in bondage to sin. RICHARD LOVETT, M.A. THE REVISED OLD TESTAMENT. THE interest aroused in Bible translation | serve to prove this, and will also indicate a few years since by the issue of the the wonderful light thrown upon many Revised New Testament has been re- passages that are obscure, imperfectly awakened by the publication of the Revised Old Testament. More than two hundred and fifty years have gone by since what is known as the authorized version was given to the English people. During that interval the world has learned much on many subjects, and it would have been strange if, on matters relating to the Bible, nothing new had come to light. power we possess. The authorized version of the English Bible is a marvellous book. It has conferred benefits upon the world that cannot adequately be measured by any It has become so much a part of the nation's best life, and has acquired such a sacredness of association, that many are disposed to think it incapable of improvement, and to look upon any attempts in that direction as little short of sacrilege. But in the last 250 years scholars have studied more deeply the niceties of the Hebrew language; they have become better acquainted with the natural history and physical features of Palestine, and they have come to know more about the political, social, and religious life of the Jews and their neighbours. Hence words and inferences that the old translators misunderstood can now be rightly rendered, and matters that were dark to them are light to the best and most devout students of our day. expressed, or mistaken in the old version. It is a great gain, moreover, to have the Bible not broken up into verses, but given in paragraphs. It is also most helpful to have the poetical parts made clear to the eye. Take, for instance, the song of Deborah and Barak. The very opening words become much clearer in their new form, "For that the leaders took the lead in Israel, For that the people offered themselves willingly, Bless ye the Lord "1 replaces the old "Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves." In verse 14, "they that handle the pen of that handle' the marshal's staff," and in the writer," is replaced by "they verse 16 the unintelligible "For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart," gives way to, "At the watercourses of Rueben there were great searchings of heart." A close comshow that the new gives a bold, vigorous, parison of the new and old renderings lifelike version of the ancient song of triumph, thoroughly intelligible from beginning to end. Excellent examples of a similar kind are Jacob's blessing, Moses' song, and Balaam's prophecies. The book of Job will now become full of new meanings to the attentive reader. The alterations are slight in extent, but For instance, in the 28th chapter, "a give wondrous vividness to the language. vein for " becomes "a mine for the silver." "The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant" becomes, "He breaketh open a shaft away from where men sojourn "; a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen," Careful reading of the revised Old Testament shows how closely the principles laid down for the guidance of the work have been followed, the chief of which were "to introduce as few alterations as possible consistently with faithfulness," and "to limit, as far as possible," the expression of such alterations to the language of the authorized and earlier English versions." A few examples will 1 Judges v. 2. becomes "that path no bird of prey knoweth, neither hath the falcon's eye seen it.' version will be found to possess a life and vigour and clearness that make the old familiar passages even more full of meaning. We select, as one example typical of many, the following from Isaiah liii. 7-9. "He was oppressed, yet He humbled Himself and opened not His mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before her shearers is dumb; yea, He opened not His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who among them considered that He was cut In the closing chapters "the cluster replaces "the sweet influences of the Pleiades," and "the bear with her train" replaces "Arcturus with his sons." We now have the "wild ox" instead of the "unicorn"; "the wing of the ostrich" instead of the "peacock." The warhorse, instead of being "afraid as a grasshopper," now "leaps as a locust," and for the old rendering, not at all clear, "the glory of his nostrils is ter-off out of the land of the living? For rible," we have "the glory of his snorting." The more accurate use of the tenses gives new force to many passages. The Psalms are now divided, as in the Hebrew text, into five books, and afford many good instances of the reviser's restraint in making alterations. In the 23rd only one word is varied. The 47th contains many typical improvements, such as, "The King's daughter within the palace is all glorious." In the 47th all peoples are exhorted to clap their hands, thus widening out, not here only, but in many other places also, the scope of the Psalm far beyond the limits of Israel. The 121st now begins, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains. From whence shall my help come? My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth." The prophecies gain greatly in their force and meaning to the English reader in their new form. It is hardly too much to say that although the words have been very familiar to many, they have not always conveyed clear meanings. The best way to appreciate the difference between the two is to compare long passages. Wherever this is done, the new the transgression of My people was He stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; although He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth." Space does not permit the multiplication of examples, but careful thoughtful reading of the new version will bring to light, on almost every page, improvements that all tend to make the meaning of the inspired word clearer to the mind of the reader. The revisers have changed the text only where it was felt by the great majority of the company to be really needful, and although it is too much to expect that in all their decisions they will carry the judgment of others with them, yet every devout earnest reader of the Old Testament cannot fail to profit greatly by their labours. More and more will it become clear to those who thus study it that the Old Testament is not simply an old-world story, but that it contains God's revelation to men of the way in which He deals with men and nations, and of the way in which His love has seen fit to work out salvation for all who are in bondage to sin. RICHARD LOVETT, M.A. NOVEMBER. SHADOW on the gloomy plain, O wrapped in winds and drenched in rain; I watched thee gathering far away Their dirge-November! The dirge of Summer, dead and gone; Death-struck-November! I saw the late flowers die with fear, O slayer! what wild work is thine! Hush foolish questions! born and bred Of trustless heart and thoughtless head! 1 have thy nobler work misread Heaven-sent November! Thou driv'st the poison from the blood Of dreamers who on fancies broodHealthful November! Thou hind'rest labour but for rest; Thy sharp frosts sow the field with gold; Breathe thy crisp vigour through my veins, Cool with thine ice my passions warm, And keep, beneath thy snows, from harm The seeds of hope; and nerve my arm With strength, November! Change the late bloom to hardy fruit, And when spring comes, aflush with sun, Faithful November! For the Young. 66 SHALL ASK THE POLICEMAN." books in their hands. T was a very wet day. The rain poured down without stopping, and little waterfalls came from every outstanding roof and shutter. I was hurrying down a narrow street, when I heard a voice say, "Please, can you tell me the way to Peek Street?" I looked down and saw two children, a girl, who might be eight years old, and a boy rather younger. They had evidently just come out of school, for they had slates and Peek Street! It was a long way off, and there were a great many turnings in and out between us and it. So I settled to see them on their way, and we all set off together, getting plenty of drippings, for an umbrella that forms a comfortable shelter for one person is an indifferent one for three. At length we came to Oxford Street. Now crossing Oxford Street on a very muddy day is not what one would choose as an amusement, and when the operation is performed in company with two little people who insist on standing still in the middle to watch the omnibuses, it becomes really painful. J However, we reached the other side in safety, and were able to resume conversation. "Do you know High Street ?" said I. "We don't know any streets at all," said the little girl. "We've only been here six the precipices down which you will fall and be dashed to pieces. weeks." "Where did you live before that?" "Manchester," she said again; her brother trudged on in silence, We presently reached a point where I thought they could be left in safety, so we stopped, and I gave parting instructions" You must go down by the church there, turn to the left and then to the right." The little girl nodded; but I did not feel quite sure she understood. "What will you do when you get to the church?" I asked. "Turn round there," she said, waving her hand to the left. "And what then?" "I shall ask a policeman," she said, with an assured nod of the head. "That will be quite right," I said, and retraced my steps, feeling what a sensible little woman was my Manchester friend. But a little later, the conviction slowly forced itself upon me, that I had directed the poor children to Frean Street and not to Peek Street at all. It was too late to go back, they were far away. I could do absolutely nothing to set my stupid mistake right. And I had only the consolation of thinking that the policeman to whom they would appeal, would prove a safer guide, and turn their steps in the right direction. Then I fell to musing, that we are all in very much the same position as my little friends, and we cannot do better than follow their example. We all have to go along a strange path; and unless we have a guide to show us the way we must be lost. You, boys and girls, are just setting out on your journey through the world. Well for you if you acknowledge, like the little girl, your ignorance of the way, for then you will be willing to trust yourself to a guide. But where are you to find the guide? Many will offer to lead you. There is Pleasure, with her silken robe, her soft hand, her sweet perfumes: "Follow me,” she whispers, "I will lead you through easy paths and flowery dells. There is nothing painful in my lot." Heed her not. Her way ends in a black pit, where you will be choked in the foulest mire. Then there is Ambition with his firm step, his stedfast eye, his iron grasp. "Follow me," he says. "I will lead you upward to the glorious heights, where the whole world shall lie at your feet. The way may be rough; but I will help you along. You may stumble among the rocks; but I shall be at hand to lift you up." Do not listen to him. He did not tell you that the mountain-top is cold and bleak, that chill mists hang about it, and hide the yawning chasms, Then follows Avarice, with his bent head, his crooked walk, his cunning eye. He beckons to you, and fingering the treasure that lies close at his heart, says, Follow me. I will lead you through the places where gold is hidden. They are dark, it is true; but the glitter of gold is better than light. Treasure is heavy to carry; but in the end it will bring you every joy." that you Bid him depart. He does not tell you will never stop to enjoy your wealth; but, with the burden ever increasing, will go on and on, till it drags you down, and you perish in the deep waters. There is only one safe Guide for you, and He knows every step of the way. He passed along it with bleeding feet. He chose the roughest parts that you might have the smooth. He bore pains untold, that you might have endless joys. You will know that I mean the Lord Jesus Christ. He is willing to help you. Hear what He says: 'I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go. I will guide thee with Mine eye." Take Him for your Guide, and follow wherever He leads. I do not know what sort of a home my little friends had. I think from their look it must have been a happy one. But words fail to tell how happy is the home to which the Lord Jesus will lead you. There are to be found all the good things promised by the false guides of which I have told you. Listen what God's Word tells us about it: "In Thy presence is fulness of joy, and at Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore." "He that overcometh shall inherit all things," and "shall reign for ever and ever." "The city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones." "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain." And, best of all, those who reach this home shall see their Guide and be with Him for ever. Oh, sad it is, to think that many a boy and girl will never reach that home, because they have followed the wrong leader. Be very sure you can never find the way by yourself. Do not trust those who promise you an easy path and a safe journey. Trust yourself entirely to Him whose promises never fail. "Wilt thou not from this time cry unto Him— "My Father, Thou art the Guide of my youth? For He "shall guide thee with His counsel and afterwards receive thee into glory." EMILY DIBDIN.. |