Modern Bible

The University of Chicago Press will presently issue a version of the New Testament translated by Professor Goodspeed from the original Greek into American vernacular.

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. This now reads: ” Blessed are they who feel their spiritual need, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.”

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal now reads: ” If I can speak the language of men and even of angels, but have nolove, I am only a noisy gong or a clashing cymbal.”

Beareth all things, believeth all things . . . Charity never faileth becomes ” It will bear anything, believe anything . . . Love will never die out.”

The Lord’s Prayer reads as follows:

“Our Father in heaven,

“Your kingdom come.

“Give us today bread for the day. and forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors; and do not subject us to temptation, but save us from the Evil One.”

If men and the children of men now living will read the Bible in “United States” and will not read the Bible in the King’s English— then the Goodspeed version will be justified both as good business and true religion. Its plea before the high court of literature has never been entered; its defenders simply beg the court’s pardon.

Professor Charles Foster Kent, of Yale, collaborating with Henry A. Sherman, head of publisher Scribner’s religious literature department, recently brought out a Children’s Bible. This was severely attacked by Professor William Lyon Phelps, of Yale, who parodied Hamlet’s soliloquy as follows: “I wonder whether or not I shall exist after death. Is it better to stick around a little longer or to try to win out by suicide ?” However, the Kent-Sherman Bible is considered the best in the children’s field.

The King James Bible, begot by the Renaissance and brought forth by Cranmer and Cromwell (not Oliver), and Queen Elizabeth’s bishops and King James’ savants, survives. Religion may improve it out of church, but Art will preserve it forever.On this point, all agree.