I forgot to mention that it was the Greek version of the Hebrew Scripture, that is the Septuagint, which they were familiar with. Is that important? You will see why when we reach the end of chapter one.
Today, we continue reading from 1 Peter 1:18. Peter reminded the readers that they were ransomed, not with gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord (1 Peter 1:18-19). Like John, Peter confessed his belief in the pre-existence of Jesus as the Word of God before the creation of the universe (1 Peter 1:20). Through the risen Jesus, we have faith and hope in God (1 Peter 1:21). He urged the readers to practise charity towards one another (1 Peter 1:22). He reiterated once again that the readers were born anew through Jesus, the living and abiding word of God (1 Peter 1:23). Then he quoted Isaiah. Now, I would like to make some comparisons among the various translations we have in hand. Indeed, with the help of the Internet, we can amass a lot of information to help us study the Word of God.
| RSV | |
| 1 Peter 1:24-25 | Isaiah 40:6-8 |
| for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord abides for ever." That word is the good news which was preached to you. | A voice says, "Cry!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people is grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand for ever. |
| KJV | |
| 1 Peter 1:24-25 | Isaiah 40:6-8 |
| For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. | The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. |
【思高】is recognized by both Protestants and Catholics to be the best Chinese translation we have.
| 思高 | |
| 伯前 1:24-25 | 依 40:6-8 |
| 因為『凡有血肉的都似草，他的一切美麗都似草上的花：草枯萎了，花也就凋謝了； 但上主的話卻永遠常存。』這話就是傳報給你們的福音。 | 有個聲音說：「呼喊罷！」我答說：「我呼喊什麼？」「凡有血肉的都似草，他的美麗似田野的花； 上主的風吹來，草必枯萎，花必凋謝。【的確，人民好像草。】 草能枯萎，花能凋謝，但我們天主的話永遠常存。」 |
The Latin version contains the most variations. St. Jerome was known to translate the OT from Hebrew. No wonder the differences are so glaring.
| Vulgate | |
| 1 Peter 1:24-25 | Isaiah 40:6-8 |
| quia omnis caro ut fœnum: et omnis gloria ejus tamquam flos fœni: exaruit fœnum, et flos ejus decidit. Verbum autem Domini manet in æternum: hoc est autem verbum, quod evangelizatum est in vos. | Vox dicentis: Clama. Et dixi: Quid clamabo? Omnis caro fœnum, et omnis gloria ejus quasi flos agri.Exsiccatum est fœnum, et cecidit flos, quia spiritus Domini sufflavit in eo. Vere fœnum est populus: exsiccatum est fœnum, et cecidit flos; verbum autem Domini nostri manet in æternum. |
| GNT | Septuagint |
| 1 Peter 1:24-25 | Isaiah 40:6-8 |
| διότι πᾶσα σὰρξ ὡς χόρτος, καὶ πᾶσα δόξα αὐτῆς ὡς ἄνθος χόρτου: ἐξηράνθη ὁ χόρτος, καὶ τὸ ἄνθος ἐξέπεσεν: τὸ δὲ ῥῆμα κυρίου μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. τοῦτο δέ ἐστιν τὸ ῥῆμα τὸ εὐαγγελισθὲν εἰς ὑμᾶς. | ϕωνὴ λέγοντος Βόησον· καὶ εἶπα Τί βοήσω; Πᾶσα σὰρξ χόρτος, καὶ πᾶσα δόξα ἀνϑρώπου ὡς ἄνϑος χόρτου· ἐξηράνϑη ὁ χόρτος, καὶ τὸ ἄνϑος ἐξέπεσεν, τὸ δὲ ϱῆμα τοῦ ϑεοῦ ἡμῶν μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. |
Amazing, isn't it? They are nearly identical and there are no intervening words! What can we say about the relation between the Greek New Testament and the Septuagint? This piece of text is probably a very special case where the secretary of Peter was resourceful enough to have a copy of the Septuagint on his desk. He was able to copy it directly into his epistle. Other NT authors might not be so lucky. More likely, they quoted from memory. Therefore, we will find OT quotations in different degrees of variation. When we come to modern translations, different translators were probably working on different books. Therefore, the translator of 1 Peter would render a somewhat different version from that of the Isaiah translator. What's more, the Isaiah translator was most likely working on the Hebrew text which the NT author might not have and he might not even be proficient in Hebrew!
My Advocate, I thank You for bestowing on me a thirst for languages. I pray that I put this interest in good use for Your greater glory. Our Lady, you gave us the Word of God. Pray for your children so that they love the word/Word of God and be nourished by HIM. Amen.
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