Welcome to the continuing series comparing the Revised English Bible (REB) with the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) for the first reading (usually from the Old Testament) at each Sunday Mass. This series complements the comparisons earlier in 2018, which focused on the New Testament letters. I’m interested in exploring whether the REB’s translation style differs between the Old and New Testaments.
Sunday, December 30th, 2018 — Feast of the Holy Family (Year C)
There are two options for the first reading:
Ben Sira (Sirach) 3:2-6, 12-14 or 1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28.
NABRE:
Ben Sira 3:2-6, 12-14:
For the Lord sets a father in honor over his children
and confirms a mother’s authority over her sons.
Those who honor their father atone for sins;
they store up riches who respect their mother.
Those who honor their father will have joy in their own children,
and when they pray they are heard.
Those who respect their father will live a long life;
those who obey the Lord honor their mother.
My son, be steadfast in honoring your father;
do not grieve him as long as he lives.
Even if his mind fails, be considerate of him;
do not revile him because you are in your prime.
Kindness to a father will not be forgotten;
it will serve as a sin offering—it will take lasting root.
1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28:
She conceived and, at the end of her pregnancy, bore a son whom she named Samuel. “Because I asked the LORD for him.” The next time her husband Elkanah was going up with the rest of his household to offer the customary sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vows, Hannah did not go, explaining to her husband, “Once the child is weaned, I will take him to appear before the LORD and leave him there forever.”
Once he was weaned, she brought him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and presented him at the house of the LORD in Shiloh. After they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the child to Eli. Then Hannah spoke up: “Excuse me, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here near you, praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.” Then they worshiped there before the LORD.
REB:
Ben Sira 3:2-6, 12-14:
The Lord has given the father honour in his children’s eyes
and confirmed a mother’s rights in the eyes of her sons.
Respect for a father atones for sins;
to honour your mother is like laying up treasure.
He who respects his father will be made happy by children,
and when he prays, he will be heard.
He who honours his father will have a long life,
and he who obeys the Lord gives comfort to his mother;
My son, look after your father in his old age,
and as long as he lives do nothing to grieve him.
Even if his mind fails, make allowances
and do not despise him because you are in your prime.
If you support your father it will never be forgotten.
and will stand to your credit against your sins
1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28:
She conceived, and in due time bore a son, whom she named Samuel, ‘because’, she said, ‘I asked the LORD for him’.
Elkanah with his whole household went up to make the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to keep his vow. Hannah did not go; she said to her husband, ‘After the child is weaned I shall come up with him to present him before the LORD; then he is to stay there always.’
When she had weaned him, she took him up with her. She took also a bull three years old, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him, child as he was, into the house of the LORD at Shiloh. When the bull had been slaughtered, Hannah brought the boy to Eli and said, ‘Sir, as sure as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. It was this boy that I prayed for and the LORD has granted what I asked. Now I make him over to the LORD; for his whole life he is lent to the LORD.’ And they prostrated themselves there before the LORD.