In a section where Zinsser pushes writing with active verbs, he has this interesting little quote:
If you want to see how active verbs give vitality to the written word, don't just go back to Hemingway or Thurber or Thoreau, I commend the King James Bible and William Shakespeare. [p. 112]Zinsser is not a believer, I am sure. But this observation is interesting. I would like to know how well the modern versions have followed this pattern by the KJV translators. Perhaps this element of the KJV explains some of its enduring quality. While I am not against the need to modernize, I do love the KJV phraseology on so many points. Sometimes the newer versions seem just kind of wimpy and anemic. Perhaps we could start a new slogan, "Real men read the KJV."
Regards,
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3
2 comments:
What are you doing, Don? Trying to make me like you more? Real Men, Positive KJV. I'm going to cry like a woman over this.
Hi Kent
hey man, I thought that one would light you up.
But like I said, I am not against modernizing the version, and I think there are a couple of good attempts out there.
Nevertheless, the KJV is a monumental accomplishment. I am overwhelmed by it quite often and there are phrases in there that really can't be improved on.
BTW, I just finished Olga Opfel's The King James Bible Translators. Have you ever read that one? Quite an interesting insight into the men and the times. A little too brief, but I guess there is not much info on the translators more than what she gathered together.
I have a couple of quotes from Opfel that I plan to blog on in the near future. Good stuff.
Regards,
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3
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