study of the king james bible(钦印〈圣经〉研究)-第16章
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editorials or the more extended articles； they read also the great literature。
If they take up the sporting page of a newspaper to read the account of a
ball game written in the style of the lower level of thought； where words
are misused in disregard of the laws of the language； and where one word
is made to do duty for a great many ideas； they do it solely for amusement。
They could never think of finding their mental stimulus in that sort of
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thing。 On the other hand； there are people who find in that kind of reading
their real interest。 If they should take up a thoughtful editorial or a book of
essays； they would not know what the words mean in the connection in
which they are used。 They speak a good deal about the vividness of this
lower…level language； about its popularity； they speak with a sneer about
the stiffness and dignity of that upper level。
These are； however； only the two extremes； for there is always a
middle level where move words common to both； where are avoided the
words peculiar to each。 It is the language that most people speak。 It is the
language of the street； and also of the study； of the parlor； and of the shop。
But it has little that is peculiar to either of those other levels； or to any one
place where a man may live his life and do his talking。 If we illustrate
from other literature； we can say that Macaulay's essays move on the
upper level； and that much of the so…called popular literature of our day
moves on the lower level； while Dickens moves on the middle level；
which means that men whose habitual language is that of the upper and
the lower levels can both enter into the spirit of his writing。
Now； originally the Bible moved on that middle level。 It was a
colloquial book。 The languages in which it first appeared were not in the
classic forms。 They are the languages of the streets where they were
written。 The Hebrew is almost our only example of the tongue at its period；
but it is not a literary language in any case。 The Greek of the New
Testament is not the Eolic； the language of the lyrics of Sappho； nor the
Doric； the language of war…songs or the chorus in the drama； nor the Ionic；
the dialect of epic poetry； but the Attic Greek； and a corrupted form of that；
a form corrupted by use in the streets and in the markets。
That was the original language of the Bible； a colloquial language。 But
that fact does not determine the translation。 Whether it shall be put into the
English language on the upper level or on the lower level is not so readily
determined。 Efforts have been made to put it into the language of each
level。 We have a so… called elegant translation； and we have the Bible cast
into the speech of the common day。 The King James version is on the
middle level。 It is a striking blending of the dignity of the upper level and
the popularity of the lower level。
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There is tremendous significance in the fact that these men were
making a version which should be for all people； making it out in the open
day with the king and all the people behind them。 It was the first
independent version which had been made under such favorable
circumstances。 Most of the versions had been made in private by men who
were imperiling themselves in their work。 They did not expect the Book to
pass into common use； they knew that the men who received the result of
their work would have to be those who were earnest enough to go into
secret places for their reading。 But here was a changed condition。 These
men were making a version by royal authority； a version awaited with
eager interest by the people in general。 The result is that it is a people's
Book。 Its phrases are those of common life； those that had lived up to that
time。 It is not in the peculiar language of the times。 If you want to know
the language of their own times； read these translators' servile； unhistorical
dedication to the king； or their far nobler preface to the reader。 That is the
language peculiar to their own day。 But the language of the Bible itself is
that form which had lived its way into common use。 One hundred years
after Wiclif it yet speaks his language in large part； for that part had really
lived。 In the Bibliotheca Pastorum Ruskin makes comment on Sir Philip
Sidney and his metrical version of the Psalms in these words： 〃Sir Philip
Sidney will use any cow…boy or tinker words if they only help him to say
precisely in English what David said in Hebrew； impressed the while
himself so vividly of the majesty of the thought itself that no tinker's
language can lower it or vulgarize it in his mind。〃 The King James
translators were most eager to say what the original said； and to say it so
that the common man could well understand it； and yet so that it should
not be vulgarized or cheapened by adoption of cheap words。
In his History Hallam passes some rather sharp strictures on the
English of the King James version； remarking that it abounds in uncouth
phrases and in words whose meaning is not familiar； and that whatever is
to be said it is； at any rate； not in the English of the time of King James。
And that latter saying is true； though it must be remembered that Hallam
wrote in the period when no English was recognized by literary people
except that of the upper level； when they did not know that these so… called
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uncouth phrases were to return to common use。 To…day it would be absurd
to say that the Bible is full of uncouth phrases。 Professor Cook has said
that 〃the movement of English diction； which in the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries was on the whole away from the Bible； now returns
with ever…accelerating speed toward it。〃 If the phrases went out； they came
back。 But it is true that the English of the King James version is not that of
the time of James I。； only because it is the English of the history of the
language。 It has not immortalized for us the tongue of its times； because it
has taken that tongue from its beginning and determined its form。 It
carefully avoided words that were counted coarse。 On the other hand； it
did not commit itself to words which were simply refinements of verbal
construction。 That； I say； is a general fact。
It can be illustrated in one or two ways。 For instance； a word which
has become common to us is the neuter possessive pronoun 〃its。〃 That
word does not occur in the edition of 1611； and appears first in an edition
in the printing of 1660。 In place of it； in the edition of 1611； the more
dignified personal pronoun 〃his〃 or 〃her〃 is always used； and it continues
for the most part in our familiar version。 In this verse you notice it： 〃Look
not upon the wine when it is red； when it giveth HIS color aright in the
cup。〃 In the Levitical law especially； where reference is made to sacrifices；
to the articles of the furniture of the tabernacle； or other neuter objec
