I've decided that since I'm getting close to the finish line on the text that it's probably okay for me to post a little comparison – to show what I've been up to. Below are some lines from the King James Version as quoted by Thomas Jefferson. It's a familiar story. This is from Chapter 4.
6 Now one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.
7 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster vial of ointment,
8 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
9 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
10 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
11 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred denarii, and the
other fifty.
12 And when they had nothing to pay, he graciously forgave them both. Which of them, therefore, will love him most?
13 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
14 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
15 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
16 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
And now my paraphrase of the same selection.
6 One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house, and reclined at the table. 7 A sinful woman in the city knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, so she brought an alabaster jar of perfume. 8 She stood behind him at his feet, weeping. She began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, she kissed his feet, and anointed them with the perfume. 9 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, and that she is a sinner.”
10 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” He said, “Teacher, say on.”
11 “A lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred silver coins, and the other fifty. 12 When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?” 13 Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.” He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”
14 Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. 15 You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. 16 You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfume.”
Well, at least that's a small sample. It's fairly tedious. Should I call it a 'denarius' or call it 'a day's wages'? Is it okay to call it 'fiery punishment' in one place where the word is Gehenna, and call it 'Hell' in another? I guess I'll find out.
And now to find a book reviewer. Any contacts you guys might have would be really cool right about now!
