medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Rochelle Altman wrote:
>
> Some of George Joye's translations of 1530 and 1534 replace those of
> Coverdale's 1535 collation in the 1549 Book of Common Prayer. Is that
> what you are referring to?
Possibly. What I puzzle over is the change in the tenses of the English,
assuming the BCP Psalter really is from the Great Bible. See, for example,
Psalm 23 in Coverdale's 1535 version:
The LORDE is my shepherde, I can wante nothinge.
He fedeth me in a grene pasture, ad ledeth me to a fresh water.
He quickeneth my soule, & bringeth me forth in the waye of rightuousnes for
his names sake.
Though I shulde walke now in the valley of the shadowe of death, yet I feare
no euell, for thou art with me: thy staffe & thy shepehoke coforte me.
Thou preparest a table before me agaynst mine enemies: thou anoyntest my
heade with oyle, & fyllest my cuppe full.
Oh let thy louynge kyndnes & mercy folowe me all the dayes off my life, that
I maye dwell in the house off the LORDE for euer.
The BCP version has a more "modern" feel to the syntax (this is from a late
16th cent. BCP):
The Lord is my shepheard: therefore can I lacke nothing.
He shall feede me in a greene pasture: and leade me forth beside the waters
of comfort.
He shall conuert my soule: and bring me foorth in the pathes of righteousnes
for his names sake.
Yea though I walke thorowe the valley of the shadowe of death, I will feare
no euil: for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staffe comfort me.
Thou shalt prepare a table before mee against them that trouble mee: thou
hast anointed my heade with oyle, my cup shalbe full.
But thy louing kindnesse and mercie shall folowe me all the dayes of my
life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for euer.
The Geneva Bible version (which influenced the KJV reading) seems to build
on this, but also seems to revert to the syntax of 1535:
A Psalme of Dauid. The Lorde is my shephearde, I shall not want.
He maketh me to rest in greene pasture, and leadeth me by the still waters.
He restoreth my soule, and leadeth me in the paths of righteousnesse for his
Names sake.
Yea, though I should walke through the valley of the shadowe of death, I
will feare no euill: for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staffe, they
comfort me.
Thou doest prepare a table before me in the sight of mine aduersaries: thou
doest anoynt mine head with oyle, and my cuppe runneth ouer.
Doubtlesse kindnesse and mercie shall followe me all the dayes of my life,
and I shall remaine a long season in the house of the Lord.
> Then, Thomas Sternhold's Metrical Psalms also were published in
> 1549... I used to wonder about the Bay Psalm Book (typical English
> ridng rhyme)-- until I read Sternhold's...
It really takes off with Sternhold & Hopkins of 1583.
John Briggs
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