On a complete random note: I started reading the handout before I read the little note that said fs look like ss and I had a hard time reading. :p
ANYWAY...
One of the first changes that I recognized was the change of wording from "nations" to "hearthen." The settlers of America had broken away from the established city and country to start their own. 'Nation' allows room for many different countries and areas of different culture to collaborate on one idea. With 'hearthen' there is a sense given off of unsettled and new. Which was what the new settlers were.
I feel that in line 2 of the HO there was a king lesser in quality. In the book, the Kings of the earth took their stand. But, in the HO the kings of the earth set themselves. There wasn't anything given to them there wasn't a place that was reserved for them, they had to 'set themselves.' This could be related to how the settlers in early America had a dislike for monarchy.
On the last page in the book it says, "Worship the Lord in fear, and exult in trembling." In the the HO it says, "Serve yee the lord with reverence, rejoyce in him with fear." I feel the second part of the sentences are similar because the wanted effect is an appreciated fear. But, in the book-worshipping the Lord in fear, I feel as if you are obligated to worship and if you don't there will be worse things that happen to you. In the HO it says to serve the lord with revernce, which is profound respect. It doesn't say that if you don't something bad will happen. It's merely a strong suggestion.
In the two versions I feel there is more room for individualism in the hand out version because there isn't a previous obligation to an authority not agreed with, an over dominating figure of a king and there isn't a do-this-or-else feel to the psalm. If there is an individualistic quality to the American psalm then it served in favor of the new settlers because it was what they were looking for, or it was a perfect psalm that carried the words of God but at the same time allowed room for their new outlook on religion.
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I originally would have thought the hand-out psalm would be more dominating, but after reading your post and thinking about it, a more liberal translation really does fit the early American world-view.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Emma. the handout psalm, you would think, would have to be more governing as is was written to help govern America, but it truly seems that it definitely has a more individualistic note to it, instead of being dominating.
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