A New English Translation of the Septuagint: Psalms

By: Albert Pietersma

Book Overview

Only two English translations of the Septuagint have ever been published, both more than 150 years ago. Since that time, significant advances have been made in Greek lexicography, numerous ancient manuscripts have come to light, and important steps have been taken in recovering the pristine text of each Septuagint book. Therefore, a new translation of the Septuagint into English is not only much needed, but long overdue. The goal of A New English Translation of the Septuagint (NETS) is to provide readers with an Old Testament freshly translated from the ancient Greek text. This volume of the Psalms of the Septuagint (the first part of the project) includes footnotes calling attention to relevant textual issues. In addition, the committee of translators has provided an extensive introduction to the project as a whole and to the particular issues involved in the rendering of the Psalms into English.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195297539
• ISBN13: 9780195297539
• Release Date: November 2000
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Very Valuable, Not For Everyone

Do not buy this book if you are looking for devotional or liturgical material. That is not its purpose, nor is that something for which it should (or could) be used. The value here is for those who wish to study the texts, perhaps reading this next to a favorite (or even multiple) poetic translations. The attempt was not to create a new poetic translation, but get as close to literal from the Greek as possible. Those who need this sort of thing will find this book fascinating and invaluable.

Not for everyday use, sure: but valuable to students

A previous review has slated this volume for being unsuited to liturgical or everyday use. That may be: but Septuagint studies is not kindergarten, and the textual issues hanging over any translation of Septuagint psalms are unavoidably complex. Pietersma is an old hand at this sort of thing, and a reliable, if sometimes prosaic, guide. He's attempting a difficult task: to make this rich tradition accessible, while adjudicating the issues which will decide the merits of his translation. In doing this, elegance must sometimes be abandoned in favour of greater precision. The result isn't perfect, but it is a seminal contribution to the wider project which it serves. 5 stars for effort; 4 for attainment.