Month: March 2022

The King James version of Psalms is much more clear than the Sydneys Psalter version because of the modern English used. In the Sydneys Psalter version there are many miss-spellings that make the reader have to reread passages multiple times to truly understand what the meaning is. An example of this is: “The Lord receaves my cry,/ And my good ear doth give:/ Then love hym still will I” (Sydneys Psalter Psalms 116:1-4). The misspelled words “receaves” and “hym” might make a reader have to reassess their interpretation of the passage. Although one may think it is beneficial to overlook a passage multiple times it is actually the opposite in this circumstance. Rereading sentences after sentences reduces motivation to continue reading as there seems to be a disconnect to the text. Whereas in the King James version the language is much more easily understood. To prove this here is a part of the same section of Psalms but in the King James version: “Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live” (King James Bible Psalms 116:2). There are instances of more so retired English language like “hath” and “unto” but it is very legible nonetheless. It is much easier to form a connection to text that a reader can interpret and analyze quickly and consistently. From the Sydneys Psalter version where “The Lord receaves [ones] cry,/ And [ones] good ear doth give:/ Then love hym still will [a person]” (Sydneys Psalter Psalms 116:1-4) the language leads to a unique interpretation. A lord or entity receiving cries entails that a person must be in pain or fear their superiority in order for them to help them. It’s mentioned that one must give their ear and after the first sentences it seems to be almost in a literal sense even though of course it is not. While the last sentence reveals that the pain of submitting to a higher power results in unconditional love. These ideas may have made sense in the past and may have helped shape and control society. However, in modern times it just seems ridiculous to devote to a mindset of cowardice in pursuit of love. In the King James version it’s mentioned that “Because [god] hath inclined his ear unto [a person], therefore will [they] call upon him as long as [they] live” (King James Bible Psalms 116:2). Reading through that version it feels much more accepting and understanding. There is no threat of punishment and just mention of a higher power rewarding and listening to a person willing to believe in it. A person will learn of the power of the lord (personification of positive energy) and understand the power “the lord giveth” (similar to the law of attraction where energy attracts energy. Where God represents positive energy).

The film J.B. provides a modern take on the Book of Jobs because it alters the setting giving a 1950s perspective on the bible. In the book of Jobs the chapter starts off with a statement saying: if job has ever done anything inherently wrong then others should take advantage of him. He actually encourages it. It’s a pretty abnormal perspective in comparison to the ideals of most people today. Not many people like to take responsibility for their actions when they mess up and would much rather brush their mistakes under the carpet. But Job’s system of justice is similar to “an eye for an eye” where he fully accepts responsibility for all of his actions (maily highlighting the consequences of negative actions). He goes on to say “If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door; Then let my wife grind unto an- other, and let others bow down upon her” (Book of Jobs 31: 9-10). Rarely is it ever written that a man would want to be punished for cheating on his wife. In most instances men try to hide any relations that they have with others. It’s not necessarily stated that Job would want to reveal to his wife his actions but he would encourage God to let her act in a way that would make him feel punished for his actions. In the film J.B. J.B. (Job) encounters Zuss and Nickles. Nickles (which is the portrayal of the devil) urges him to commit suicide in order to spite God for stripping him of his wealth and putting him out on the streets. Alternatively Zuss offers Job to have his old life back as long as he promises to obey God. J.B. ends up rejecting them both instead finding comfort in his wife Sarah which is where the play ends. Forcing Job into a modern perspective allows for more people to better understand the bible. He holds strong to his beliefs because he put all his faith in God. But what does that actually mean? Why do people say that they have given their life to god? What does it mean to give “Jesus the wheel”? It means that they believe positive energy will deliver them to heaven. That they don’t need to take responsibility for their actions since God has a plan for them. That any bad event will build them up and any good event is a reward for their rightdoing. It is essentially the mindset of a “perfect human.” Job does not fear having his eyes on others since he knows that God will not allow anything bad to happen to him. If he is to do that then it’s for a reason, maybe she would end up hurting him even worse or he could bring even more pain to her.