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psalm 88 why such difference in biblical interpretation?

Citizen of the Kingdom

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The first interpretation was written by the Catholic church before the KJV during the time that Protestant rule gained control over England. But that doesn’t explain the huge disparity in the translation. What is that about?

Psalms 88:7-9
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
6 The heavens shall confess thy wonders, O Lord: and thy truth in the church of the saints.
7 For who in the clouds can be compared to the Lord: or who among the sons of God shall be like to God?
8 God, who is glorified in the assembly of the saints: great and terrible above all them that are about him.
9 O Lord God of hosts, who is like to thee? thou art mighty, O Lord, and thy truth is round about thee.

Psalms 88:7-9
New International Reader's Version
7 Your great anger lies heavy on me.
All the waves of your anger have crashed over me.
8 You have taken my closest friends away from me.
You have made me sickening to them.
I feel trapped and can’t escape.
9 I’m crying so much I can’t see very well.
Lord, I call out to you every day.
I lift up my hands to you in prayer.​
 

Benjamin Müller

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The psalms in the Douay-Rheims edition follows the numbering according to the Vulgate; whereas the King James Version follows the Masoretic Text.


Psalm number correspondences
Douay–Rheims / King James Version
1–8
9 / 9–10
10–112 / 11–113
113 / 114–115
114–115 / 116
116–145 / 117–146
146–147 / 147
148–150​
 
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Citizen of the Kingdom

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The psalms in the Douay-Rheims edition follows the numbering according to the Vulgate; whereas the King James Version follows the Masoretic Text.
Ok? so could you explain where the equivalent matches are found. I’m not formally trained to understand the differences that are implied by the terms.
 
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Benjamin Müller

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Ok? so could you explain where the equivalent matches are found. I’m not formally trained to understand the differences that are implied by the terms.

I edited my above post with the corresponding psalms.
 
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Citizen of the Kingdom

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I dont think that makes any more sense to the question or answer given.

Psalms 87

A psalm of the Sons of Korah. A song.
1 The Lord has built his city
on the holy mountain.
2 He loves the city of Zion
more than all the other places
where the people of Jacob live.
3 City of God,
the Lord says glorious things about you.
4 He says, “I will include Egypt and Babylon
in a list of nations who recognize me as king.
I will also include Philistia and Tyre, along with Cush.
I will say about them, ‘They were born in Zion.’ ”

5 Certainly it will be said about Zion,
“This nation and that nation were born in it.
The Most High God himself will make it secure.”
6 Here is what the Lord will write in his list of the nations.
“Each of them was born in Zion.”
7 As they make music they will sing,
“Zion, all our blessings come from you.”

and psalms 89 is incredibly long that it may include a few but the first few verses sound like that may match .... or not. I don’t think they are the same tbh.


Psalm 89


A maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.
1 Lord, I will sing about your great love forever.
For all time to come, I will tell how faithful you are.
2 I will tell everyone that your love stands firm forever.
I will tell them that you are always faithful, even in heaven itself.

3 You said, “Here is the covenant I have made with my chosen one.
Here is the promise I have made to my servant David.
4 ‘I will make your family line continue forever.
I will make your kingdom secure for all time to come.’ ”

5 Lord, the heavens praise you for your wonderful deeds.
When your holy angels gather together,
they praise you for how faithful you are.
6 Who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
Who among the angels is like the Lord?
7 God is highly respected among his holy angels.
He’s more wonderful than all those who are around him.
8 Lord God who rules over all, who is like you?
Lord, you are mighty. You are faithful in everything you do.

9 You rule over the stormy sea.
When its waves rise up, you calm them down.
10 You crushed Egypt and killed her people.
With your powerful arm you scattered your enemies.
11 The heavens belong to you. The earth is yours also.
You made the world and everything that is in it.
12 You created everything from north to south.
Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon sing to you with joy.
13 Your arm is powerful.
Your hand is strong.
Your right hand is mighty.

14 Your kingdom is built on what is right and fair.
Your faithful love leads the way in front of you.
15 Blessed are those who have learned to shout praise to you.
Lord, they live in the light of your kindness.
16 All day long they are full of joy because of who you are.
They celebrate the fact that you do what is right.
17 You bring them glory and give them strength.
You are pleased to honor our king.
18 Our king is like a shield that keeps us safe.
He belongs to the Lord.
He belongs to the Holy One of Israel.

19 You once spoke to your faithful people in a vision.
You said, “I have given strength to a soldier.
I have raised up a young man from among the people.
20 I have found my servant David.
I have poured my sacred oil on his head.
21 My powerful hand will keep him going.
My mighty arm will give him strength.
22 No enemy will have the victory over him.
No evil person will treat him badly.
23 I will crush the king’s enemies.
I will completely destroy them.
24 I will love him and be faithful to him.
Because of me his power will increase.
25 I will give him a great kingdom.
It will reach from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River.
26 He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father.
You are my God. You are my Rock and Savior.’
27 I will also make him my oldest son.
Among all the kings of the earth, he will be the most important one.
28 I will continue to love him forever.
I will never break my covenant with him.
29 I will make his family line continue forever.
His kingdom will last as long as the heavens.

30 “What if his sons turn away from my laws
and do not follow them?
31 What if they disobey my orders
and fail to keep my commands?
32 Then I will punish them for their sins.
I will strike them with a rod.
I will whip them for their evil acts.
33 But I will not stop loving David.
I will always be faithful to him.
34 I will not break my covenant.
I will not go back on my word.
35 Once and for all, I have made a promise.
It is based on my holiness.
And I will not lie to David.
36 His family line will continue forever.
His kingdom will last as long as the sun.
37 It will last forever like the moon,
that faithful witness in the sky.”

38 But you have turned your back on your anointed king.
You have been very angry with him.
39 You have broken the covenant you made with him.
You have thrown your servant’s crown into the dirt.
40 You have broken through the walls around his city.
You have completely destroyed his secure places.
41 All those who pass by have carried off what belonged to him.
His neighbors make fun of him.
42 You have made his enemies strong.
You have made all of them happy.
43 You have made his sword useless.
You have not helped him in battle.
44 You have put an end to his glory.
You have knocked his throne to the ground.
45 You have cut short the days of his life.
You have covered him with shame.

46 Lord, how long will you hide yourself? Will it be forever?
How long will your anger burn like fire?
47 Remember how short my life is.
You have created all people for such a useless purpose!
48 Who can live and not die?
Who can escape the power of the grave?
49 Lord, where is the great love you used to have?
You faithfully promised it to David.
50 Lord, remember how my enemies have made fun of me.
I’ve had to put up with mean words from all the nations.
51 Lord, your enemies have said mean things.
They have laughed at everything your anointed king has done.

52 Give praise to the Lord forever!
Amen and Amen.

the comparison
Psalms 88:7-9
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
6 The heavens shall confess thy wonders, O Lord: and thy truth in the church of the saints.
7 For who in the clouds can be compared to the Lord: or who among the sons of God shall be like to God?
8 God, who is glorified in the assembly of the saints: great and terrible above all them that are about him.
9 O Lord God of hosts, who is like to thee? thou art mighty, O Lord, and thy truth is round about thee.


 
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Brian Mcnamee

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you don't know the difference between and interpretation and a translation. so your 1st translation mentioned is one from 300AD and then you want to compare NIV and Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition. There are hundreds of translations and many of the differences come from two major factors as different texts were used in translating the Bibles. Look up Textus Receptus and Textus Siniaticus as these is one area where differences occur. Now the scholars who translated the texts had different concepts of how to translate them. You could go for literal word for word translation or you could go for idea for idea translation which includes trying to capture some of the literary style in the texts. Also over time words come and go and change and peoples use of the language or level of scholarship and vocabulary have changed that is why the NKJ came along as people no longer spoke like they did in the King James era.

Even with the many translations out there the debate over the interpretation is huge and this is often guided by what lens you are seeing the Bible through. There is an allegorical view which is largely in conflict with the literal view. These different views might effect the translators choice of words as well.
 
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Benjamin Müller

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So, that’s it? No other explanation?

This sounds awfully rude. If I haven't addressed your question properly, clarify yourself rather than posting temperamental and ungrateful-sounding remarks.

Psalm 88:7-9 of the Douay-Rheims edition corresponds with Psalms 89:5-8 of the KJV.

Scholars compiled the Psalms differently; chapters in the bible are a human invention. If that doesn't answer your question then I'm sorry; I just don't understand what you're asking.
 
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Citizen of the Kingdom

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you don't know the difference between and interpretation and a translation. ....
Interpretaion of the ‘original' is what is in question, that produced such a diversion in translation.
 
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Citizen of the Kingdom

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This sounds awfully rude. If I haven't addressed your question properly, clarify yourself rather than posting temperamental and ungrateful-sounding remarks.

Psalm 88:7-9 of the Douay-Rheims edition corresponds with Psalms 89:5-8 of the KJV.

Scholars compiled the Psalms differently; chapters in the bible are a human invention. If that doesn't answer your question then I'm sorry; I just don't understand what you're asking.
It was the human invention aspect that was what needed to be clarified. Thank you for providing the complete answer along with the rabbit trail provided previously. Sorry if that sounded rude to you..
 
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Benjamin Müller

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It was the human invention aspect that was what needed to be clarified. Thank you for providing the complete answer along with the rabbit trail provided previously. Sorry if that sounded rude to you..

It's cool. Glad I was able to make sense.
 
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GreekOrthodox

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You'll see the Psalms sometimes listed as 51 (50). The first is the Masoretic number and the second is the Septuagint number.

Psalms 1-8 are the same in Hebrew and the Septuagint.
Psalms 9 and 10 in Hebrew are combined as Psalm 9 in the Septuagint.
Psalms 11-113 in Hebrew are Psalms 10-112 in the Septuagint (Hebrew-1 = Greek).
Psalms 114 and 115 in Hebrew are combined as Psalm 113 in the Septuagint.
Psalm 116 in Hebrew is divided into Psalms 114 and 115 in the Septuagint.
Psalms 117-146 in Hebrew are Psalms 116-145 in the Septuagint (Hebrew-1 = Greek).
Psalm 147 in Hebrew is divided into Psalms 146 and 147 in the Septuagint.
Psalms 148-150 are the same in Hebrew and the Septuagint.
 
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chevyontheriver

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you don't know the difference between and interpretation and a translation. so your 1st translation mentioned is one from 300AD and then you want to compare NIV and Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition. There are hundreds of translations and many of the differences come from two major factors as different texts were used in translating the Bibles. Look up Textus Receptus and Textus Siniaticus as these is one area where differences occur. Now the scholars who translated the texts had different concepts of how to translate them. You could go for literal word for word translation or you could go for idea for idea translation which includes trying to capture some of the literary style in the texts. Also over time words come and go and change and peoples use of the language or level of scholarship and vocabulary have changed that is why the NKJ came along as people no longer spoke like they did in the King James era.

Even with the many translations out there the debate over the interpretation is huge and this is often guided by what lens you are seeing the Bible through. There is an allegorical view which is largely in conflict with the literal view. These different views might effect the translators choice of words as well.
It's a numbering issue. With older Catholic Bibles the Psalms numbering differs.
 
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Clare73

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The first interpretation was written by the Catholic church before the KJV during the time that Protestant rule gained control over England. But that doesn’t explain the huge disparity in the translation. What is that about?

Psalms 88:7-9
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
6 The heavens shall confess thy wonders, O Lord: and thy truth in the church of the saints.
7 For who in the clouds can be compared to the Lord: or who among the sons of God shall be like to God?
8 God, who is glorified in the assembly of the saints: great and terrible above all them that are about him.
9 O Lord God of hosts, who is like to thee? thou art mighty, O Lord, and thy truth is round about thee.

Psalms 88:7-9
New International Reader's Version
7 Your great anger lies heavy on me.
All the waves of your anger have crashed over me.
8 You have taken my closest friends away from me.
You have made me sickening to them.
I feel trapped and can’t escape.
9 I’m crying so much I can’t see very well.
Lord, I call out to you every day.
I lift up my hands to you in prayer.​
The Psalms are numbered differently in the two translations.
 
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Citizen of the Kingdom

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Amittai

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The main issue was that if it doesn't match, look for the number next to it. Mostly, add one for non-catholic, except for the first few and the last few.

(I like Ps 88 because there isn't a "triumphal" looking bit so I don't get irritated about being "jollied". Though I'm grateful for the overt consoling in all the rest though!)
 
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Adventist Heretic

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i am new to the subject of variants in the texts, but The Associates for Biblical Research have a great series for this. Genesis 5 & 11

it discusses the changes and tampering to the LXX by the rabbis which accounts for the Masoratic text and the Samaratian Penetatuch differnces. this may be one of the occurances. The Masoratic text form the basis of the KJV. LXX forms the basis of the Orthodox bible.
 
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