Reformed. Christianity. Evangelism. Modern Culture.
I struggle a lot with paraphrases. But what if I was stuck with Da Hawai’i Pidgin Bible on a desert island, would I still crack it open and read Psalm 23 (while sipping cocoa nut)? Or would I be lost in translation…
Da Boss Above, he take care me,
Jalike da sheep farma take care his sheeps.
He goin give me everyting I need.He let me lie down wea da sweet an soft grass stay.
He lead me by da water wea I can rest.He give me new kine life.
He lead me in da road dat stay right,
Cuz I his guy. (Songs fo God 23:1-3)
Dude, all of a sudden even though I don’t know Koine Greek or Hebrew, Psalms 23 just sounds very hollow, irreverent and superficial and as I say this I feel like a grumpy KJV-onlyist (who loves ‘thou’ and ‘thee’ and art”). But doesn’t this simply illustrate how much we miss in richness of depth by translation of Greek (or Hebrew) into English and by further paraphrasing can’t we sail past the intended meaning?
Wait a minute, you say. Why and on what authority do you say this?
“Aloha! Cuz I his guy!” 😉
A Twisted Crown of Thorns ® 