Psalms, Old and New

The Psalms, collection of songs found in the Hebrew Bible and Christian Bible, that are often accredited to David (an early ancestor of christ). These are songs of praise and repent, joy and pain, good and evil; when translated from language to language and reinterpreted again and again you could understand that there are subtle differences in the many versions that can mean a lot. When looking at Psalm 2 for example, one version from a modern translation (found at http://www.ebible.org/WEB/Psalms.htm, which is based on The Standard American Version, 1901) in the first line says, "Why do the nations rage,/ and the peoples plot a vain thing?" Now, when looking at a much older version such as in the first version ever printed in North America, called The Bay Psalm Book printed in 1640, we can see more hostility towards the wicked (as might be expected from a puritan tradition):

(Why rage the heathen furiously?/ muse vaine things people do)

This opening phrase is certainly much more hostile than in the modern translation.

In another Psalm, we can see a similar comparison. In Psalm 8 we see the notorious puritan thinking, which you might expect. In The Standard American Version line 4 says, "what is man, that you think of him? What is the son of man, that you care for him?" In The Bay Psalm Book this same line says: 

(What's wretched man,/ that thou dost him remember?/ Or what's the son of man, that thus/ him visited thou hast?)

According to them, people are wretched. And not only are we a little lower than God (The Standard American Version): "For you have made him a little lower than God,/ and crowned him with glory and honor" (psalm 8, line 5). We are a little lower than an Angel: 

(For next to Angels, though hast him/ a little lower plac't/ and hast with glory crowned him,/ and comely majesty)

This view is not surprising from the Puritan culture, who were very strict on themselves and looked in every aspect of life to find where they could be more pure. This passage seems to reflect the idea of telling yourself that you are not ever good enough, in hopes that will compel you to do better.

However you see these passages, it is interesting how from language to language and culture to culture, these 150 songs written thousands of years ago are interpreted differently as they are translated. Giving us insight to cultures old and new.